Descripción
THREE VOLUMES, COMPLETE SET, FIRST FRENCH EDITION OF FIRST TWO VOLUMES 1776-1780, VOLUME THREE dated 1774 and entitled Description de l'Arabie faite sur des observations propres et des avis recueillis dans les lieux memes (first published in French in Copenhagen in 1773). 4to, approximately 260 x 210 mm, 10¼ x 8½ inches, a total of 150 engravings. Volume I: attractive allegorical vignette to title page, 72 engravings of which 22 folding (5 maps or plans) plus a large folding map of Yemen with routes shown in green and red; Volume II: same vignette on title page, 52 engravings, 17 folding, many maps and plans; Volume III: same title page vignette, 24 engravings including maps, 7 folding of which 2 hand coloured of Kufiq characters, and 5 of maps, plus large folding map of Yemen with routes in colour, pages: viii, (6), 409, (1); vi, (10), 389, (1); xlii, 372 + (16), all 3 complete with half-titles. Bound in old calf sides, handsomely rebacked to style, gilt decorated raised bands, ornate gilt decoration in compartments, contrasting gilt lettered morocco labels, original endpapers retained. A few small scrapes to covers, corners slightly worn with cardboard showing at tips, ex college library copy with armorial library bookplate stamped 'Withdrawn' on each pastedown, small blind library stamp on title pages, tiny closed tear to inner edge of 2 folding maps in Volume I, 1 folding map protruding slightly from text block and very slightly worn along fore-edge, 1 or 2 very small neat pencil notes in Volume II, neat pencil titles to plates on Directions to Binder at the end of Volume III. A very good clean set. Volume I covers Egypt (pages 32-212) and Yemen, Volume II covers parts of India including Bombay and Surat, Iraq and Syria, Volume III first part: describes Arabia in general, customs, religion, currency, ancient writing, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, animals; second part covers Yemen, Oman, Mecca and Medina, Bedouin tribes, Desert of Mount Sinai. Cox, Volume I, page 237: 'This is a justly famous and popular work. Niebuhr, though German born, took part as astronomer and naturalist in the Royal Danish expedition to Arabia 1763-67. His accounts are probably the best and most authentic of their day. Though Arabia was his chief concern, his travels extended into Egypt, Persia and Hindustan"; Sotheby's Library of Peter Hopkirk, 1010: "(Niebuhr's) work was the first European attempt at a complete account of Arabia. He amassed a vast quantity of factual information which he relates in a simple unrhetorical fashion, distinguishing clearly between things observed personally and things learned from, others."; Sotheby's Library of Michael Burrell, 569; Raymond John Howgego, Encyclopedia of Exploration to 1800, page 751-752. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST. N° de ref. del artículo 44944
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