The Travels of Sir John Chardin Into Persia and the East Indies, Through the Black Sea, and the Country of Colchis. Containing the Author’s Voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To Which is Added the Coronation of This Presenrt King of Persia, Solyman the III.

AS IS, needs re-binding. Early full-leather, possibly 18th century, ruled in gilt. (20) (Frontispiece, Epistle Dedicatory, Preface, Tile-page engraving) + 417+ (6) (Index) + (4) + 154 + (6) (“Table” or Index). Illustrated with the 25 copper plate engravings advertised on the 1691 title-page, which include frontispiece portrait of the author and the 1686 title-page engraving among the 19 “cuts” listed (facing p. 1 of The Coronation), plus headpieces and uncials. The 19 “cuts” also include a large folding map and 9 folding plates. Needs rebinding; missing spine; binding splited in 4 sections; boards detached, with worn corners; and leather much scuffed; small ink name on front pastedown and larger elegant initials on front free endpaper; but interior otherwise bright & clean, with the usual marginal tanning and minimal foxing. Folding plate nos. 15 & 16 (sepulchres of Abas II and Sefie I) are torn, but integral. Chardin was the son of a Parisian merchant and jeweller who made journeys to Russia and India between the years 1664 and 1677. He settled in England in 1681 and was appointed court jeweller and knighted by by Charles II. The first English and concurrent French editions of his Travels were published in 1686. Our copy is a subsequent edition datied 1691.