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TAVERNIER, John Baptiste.
A Collection of Several Relations & Treatises, Singular and Curious, of John Baptista Taverier, Baron of Aubonne.
Not printed among his first Six Voyages. Published by Edmund Everard, Esquire.
Publisher: Printed by A. Godbid and John Playford, for Moses Pitt, 1680
Stock code: 67990
Price: £4,500 Currency Conversion
First edition in English, following the French edition of 1679. Issued as a supplement to Tavernier's Six Voyages, this volume contains a lengthy description of Tonkin, the northernmost region of Vietnam, illustrated with seven folding plates; a highly critical account of "How the Hollanders manage their Affairs in Asia"; a substantial "Relation of Japan" which describes the circumstances of the expulsion of the Jesuits, and is accompanied by a large folding map, one of the earliest to include the stations of the Tokkaido, and with an inset of Tonkin; together with two slighter pieces, one on the negotiations with Persia and India to establish the French East India Company, and another advising on the best commodities - textiles, spices, and so forth - available for trade in India, and the various "deceits" that are attempted in connection with them. Tavernier spent 30 years travelling in the East as a merchant in jewels and fine fabrics. Between 1638 and 1668 he made six voyages from Turkey to Persia, India, the East Indies and Japan, gathering a wealth of information on the commerce of the region, and trade routes through it, opening the way for the adventurers who followed. An interesting and uncommon compendium of mercantile intelligence.
Folio (298 × 190 mm). Near contemporary blind-ruled calf, tan morocco label. Folding engraved map, and 7 folding engraved plates. Dry and a little rubbed, particularly on the joints which are starting, label slightly chipped costing 2 letters, small patch rubbed through on the title, no loss of text, overall a very good copy.
