First English Edition, With Over 320 Illustrations
LE BRUYN, Corneille. - Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies.
LE BRUYN, Corneille. - Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies.
LE BRUYN, Corneille. - Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies.
LE BRUYN, Corneille. - Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies.
LE BRUYN, Corneille. Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies. Containing, an accurate description of whatever is most remarkable in those countries. And embelished with above 320 copper plates, representing the finest Prospects, and most considerable Cities in those Parts; the different Habits of the People; the singular and extraordinary Birds, Fishes, and Plants which are there to be found: As likewise the Antiquities of those Countries, and particularly the noble Ruins of the famous Palace of Persepolis, called Chelminar by the Persians. The whole being delineated on the Spot, from the respective Objects. To which is added, an account of the journey of Mr. Isbrants, Ambassador from Muscovy, through Russia and Tartary, to China; together with Remarks on the Travels of Sir John Chardin, and Mr. Kempfer, and a Letter written to the Author on that Subject. In two volumes. By M. Cornelius Le Bruyn. Translated from the original French. ... London: For A. Bettesworth, and C. Hitch , 1737.
First English edition. Folio (13 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches; 342 x 224 mm). [6], 228, 225-235, [362], 263-266, 241-246; [2], 1-223, [1, blank], 11, index, [1, blank] pp. In volume I, page 229-250 are misnumbered, however collates correctly.

Heavily illustrated with 322 copperplate engravings. Including frontispiece, frontispiece portrait, three double page maps, 44 intertextual illustrations and 275 illustrations on 114 plates, 262 of which are numbered. Of these 114 plates, 56 are double page, 45 are single page and 13 are large folding plates. Included in these large folding plates are very large pullout panoramic views of "Sphan", "Mokow." The fold-out plate "Moskow" which is plate number 12, is bound out of order and behind plate number 74.

Bound in newer full calf. Boards double-ruled in gilt. Spines stamped and numbered in gilt. With original brown spine labels, lettered in gilt. All edges speckled red. A bit of foxing and toning throughout, however in general the text is very clean. The majority of the plates are quite clean, some occasional toning. The two pull-out panoramas of "Sphan" and "Moskow" with some repairs to closed tears and well as some dampstaining and marginal repairs. Volume I has a small old ink stain to fore-edge of leaves Ooo-Sss, not affecting text. Volume I possibly lacking final blank?A few instances of marginal cracking throughout, but overall very firm. Overall very good copy..

"DEBRUIN (or de Bruyn), CORNELIS, also known as Corneille Le Brun or Le Bruyn (b. the Hague 1652, d. Utrecht 1726 or 1727), Dutch painter and author of two accounts of his travels in Persia and other eastern lands... On 28 July 1701 de Bruin again left the Hegue, this time for Russia, Persia, and the East Indies; he did not return until 24 October 1708...after returning from Asia de Bruin spent most of his time writing his second book and preparing 320 engravings; the work was published in Amsterdam in 1711 (Corn. de Bruins Reizen over Moskovie door Persie en Indie, verrykt met 300 konstplaten, vertoonende . . . voor al derz. oudheden, en wel voornamentlyk heel uitvoerig die van het . . .hof van Persepolis); ...In 1737 an English translation of de Bruin’s entire second travel account (Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and Part of the East-Indies . . . Embellished with above 300 Copper Plates . . . with Remarks on the Travels of Sir John Chardin and Mr. Kaempfer . . ., 2 vols., London, also based on the 1718 French edition) was published with irregular pagination" (Encyclopaedi Iranica, Vol. VII, Fasc. 2, pp. 173-174).

HBS # 65900 $9,000

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