OLEARIUS (Adam). Voyages très-curieux & très renommez fa - Lot 197

OLEARIUS (Adam). Voyages très-curieux & très renommez faits en Moscovie, Tartarie Et Perse, par le Sr Adam Olearius A Leide, chez Pierre Vander Aa, 1719. 2 parts in one volume in-4, posterior glazed blond calf, ornate ribbed spine, red morocco title-piece, gilt fillet bordering the covers, gilt roulette at the edges, yellow edges (head-cap uncovered, 2 corners worn, some spotting, jaws split; small marginal tear on p. 982, some foxing and browned leaves, small rubs on some plates and a few transfers, tear not missing on last f.). Important work on Russia and Persia. Originally published in German in 1647, it was translated from the original by Abraham de Wicquefort and published in Paris in 1656 (two further French editions by de Wicquefort followed in 1659 and 1666). The 1719 French edition by Wicquefort, published in Leide by Vander Aa, is considerably expanded. It is also distinguished by its abundant iconography, including 2 portraits - of the author and Czar Michael Federowits - 12 maps and plans, 28 plates, most of them double, and numerous illustrations in the text, all engraved on copper. "In this work, Olearius shows himself to be a judicious observer and a sincere narrator. He was the first to indicate the position of many places. He drew the figures himself, and drew the maps that accompany his account." First volume False title, 2 engraved titles, [6] pp. Dedicatory epistle, 26 ff. n.ch. (Printer's notice, prefaces, dedication, catalog of authors, praise), pp. 1-560 - 2 portraits, 12 maps and plans, 19 plates out of text and 40 illustrations in text. Second volume pp. [561] -1108 pp, [22] pp. 9 double-page plates and 19 illustrations in text. 2-column paginated text. (Brunet IV, 178; Graesse V, p.18; Quérard VI, 479; Boucher de la Richarderie I, 187-188; Hoefer 38, p. 516).