BERNIER (François). Voyages de François Bernier... containin - Lot 15

BERNIER (François). Voyages de François Bernier... containing the description of the States of the Great Mogol, of Hindustan, of the Kingdom of Kachemire, &c. Où il est traité des Richesses, des Forces, de la Justice, & des causes principales de la décadence des Etats de l'Asie, & de plusieurs événements considérables... Amsterdam, Paul Marret, 1699. 2 vols. in-12, 320 p. (miscalculated 220), and 358 p., contemporary speckled brown basane, ornate ribbed spine, mottled edges. First edition under this title, which brings together the four parts of Franc¸ois Bernier's voyages, first published in Paris by Claude Barbin in 1670 under the title Histoire de la dernie`re re'volution des Estats du Grand Mogol. The illustration includes 2 frontispieces, 8 plates, 6 of which are folding, and 3 folding maps: L'Empire du Grand Mogol; Carte nouvelle du Royaume de Kachemire; Source du Nil. A physician and disciple of Gassendi, Franc¸ois Bernier was one of the most brilliant figures in Parisian society of his time. He visited the Middle East and spent twelve years in India, including eight as physician to Emperor Aureng-Zeyb, the Great Mogul of India. The protection of the emperor Danichmend enabled him to penetrate Kashmir, a region virtually unknown to Europeans at the time. He returned to France in 1669, and published "one of the best and most accurate accounts of India at this time" (Gay). (Gay, 1945; Brunet, I, 802; Boucher de la Richarderie V, p. 66; Chadenat II, 4197).