LA BOULLAYE - LE GOUZ : Les Voyages et observations du sieur - Lot 122

LA BOULLAYE - LE GOUZ : Les Voyages et observations du sieur de La Boullaye - Le - Gouz, gentil-homme angevin, Où sont décrits les Religions, Gouvernemens, situations des Estats Royaumes d'Italie, Grece, Natolie, Syrie, Perse, Palestine, Karamenie, Kaldée, Assyria, Grand Mogol, Bijapour, East Indies of the Portuguese, Arabia, Egypt, Holland, Great Britain, Ireland, Dannemark, Poland, Isles other places of Europe, Asia Affrique, where he stayed, all enriched with beautiful figures. Nouvellement reveu corrigé par l'Autheur, augmenté de quantité de bons advis, pour ceux qui veulent voyager: avec un ordre pour suivre les Karavanes, qui vont en diverses parties du monde. Clouzier, 1657. One volume in-4 in contemporary marbled calf, spine ribbed and decorated (hinges rubbed, corners worn, foxing and small brown spots on title and first leaves). 7ff. including a dedication leaf, title, captioned portrait of La Boullaye, preface ; 558p., [5ff. table, errors, privilege of February 12, 1657]; 33 woodcut illustrations in the text, 16 full-page. Second edition Rare illustrated account of a great Angevin traveler. Of English origin, born around 1610 at Château de Bordes in Pontigné (Baugé), La Boullaye-Le Gouz died in Ispahan around 1669, where he was given a sumptuous funeral by the Shah. In Asia and Africa he was known as Ibrahim Beg, and in Europe as the "Catholic Traveler". The book is complete with two illustrations of the author: the first in Levantine garb, and the second showing him bidding farewell to Rabbi Aaron Ben Levy. Other illustrations include: the Great Mogul's daughter, natural history (monkeys, gazelle, leopard, trees including fig, pepper and various palms), pyramids, sphinx, Tower of Babylon, hieroglyphs on a mummy's belt... Wear and tear.