MANDELSLO, Johann Albrecht von.
Morgenländische Reyse-Beschreibung.
Hamburg, Christian Guth, printed by Johan Holwein, Schleswig, 1658. Folio. With engraved frontispiece by Christian Rothgiesser, engraved author's portrait, double-page engraved map, and 21 large engravings in text, mostly signed by Rothgiesser. Contemporary pigskin, with boards blind-tooled in a panel design. [32], 248, [36] pp.
€ 11,000
First complete German edition of the engaging travel account of Johann Albrecht von Mandelslo, edited by Adam Olearius. Mandelslo was attached to the diplomatic mission of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp to Moscow and Persia. The ambassadors remained in Persia, but Mandelslo travelled further. He sailed from Hormuz to Surat and proceeded through Gujarat to Agra, Lahore, Goa, Bijapur and Malaba, visiting Ceylon, Madagascar, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena on his return voyage in 1639. Before his death 5 years later, he had entrusted his rough notes to Olearius, who subsequently published them with a third part containing descriptions of the Coromandel coast, Bengal, Siam, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bantam, the Philippines, Formosa (Tai-wan), China and Japan.
Some spotting and soiling and tears in the foot margin of pp. 31 and 137, but otherwise in very good condition. Adelung II, pp. 306-308; Cordier, Japonica, cols. 362-368; Cox I, pp. 271-2; V. Gelder, Het Oost-Indisch avontuur, pp. 77, 99 & 263; Howgego, to 1800, M38.
Related Subjects:
