The Travels of Sir John Chardin Into Persia and the East-Indies. Through the Black-Sea, and the Country of Colchis. The First Volume, Containing the Author’s Voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, The Coronation of this Present King of Persia, Solyman the Third.
London: Moses Pitt. 1686. Edition: First English Edition., Binding: Full contemporary calf boards, rebacked in matching style. Spine with 5 raised bands, title in gilt on black label in 2, blind motifs stamped in remaining compartments. New pasted and free endpapers. Top edges black, front and bottom red. , Notes: Narrow Folio (322 x 195 mm).
Jean (John) Chardin (1643-1713) was a French jeweller and traveller, whose Travels of Sir John Chardin is regarded as one of the finest works of early Western scholarship on Safavid Iran and the near East in general. Only the first of ten volumes was translated into English, which was published concurrently with the French version; this volume covers the author's journey from Paris to Ispahan, and contains the author's half-length portrait by Loggan in addition to 18 copper plates, mostly folding. In 1664, Chardin started for the East Indies and journeyed by Constantinople and the Black Sea, reaching Persia in 1666. That same year the shah, Abbas II, made Chardin his agent for the purchase of jewels. In the middle of 1667, Chardin visited India, and returned to Persia in 1669. The next year he arrived in Paris. He issued an account of some events to which he was an eyewitness in Persia, entitled 'Le Couronnement de Soleiman Troisième,' Paris, 1671. A learned nobleman, Mirza Sefi, a prisoner in his own palace at Isfahan, had entertained Chardin, instructed him in the Persian language, and assisted him in this work.
Chardin again started for the East in 1671 and was at Constantinople from March to July of 1672. A quarrel between the grand vizier and the French ambassador made the position of French subjects dangerous, and Chardin escaped across the Black Sea. He stayed at Ispahan for four years and made various journeys throughout the land, from the Caspian to the Persian Gulf and the river Indus, visiting several Indian cities.
In 1681, Chardin emigrated to England, and a few years later he was appointed to the East India Company; during this time, he had a chance to work on the publication of his memoirs assisted by John Evelyn.
, Size: Narrow Folio , Illustration: A very good example of this First English Edition of Chardin’s voyages. Complete with 19 engraved plates and maps; including a frontispiece portrait of the author, engraved titlepage, a map of the Black Sea and surrounding countries, an important map of Iran, and 16 numbered plates, of which 12 folding. Including bird’s-eye views of the cities of Teflis, Irivan, Tabriz, Kaschan, and others. With additional engraved vignettes and historiated initials. Plate “Ecs-Miazin, commonly called the Three Churches” numbered in index as 9, 10, plate itself numbered 9, 9. , Pages: P. Blank. Frontispiece. Engraved title. Blank. Title. Printer’s colophon. Dedication (4). Preface (7). Blank. Folding map. First book: pp. 1-417. Blank. Index (5). Blank (2). Plate index. // The Coronation of Solyman III. The Present King of Persia: title. Blank. P. 1-154. Table (5). Blank., Category: Book Asia Middle East Iran; Book Voyages General;. Corners bumped, some wear to extremities. Interior largely clean and crisp; occasional tears or edgewear. Pgs. 357/8 with tear and marginal piece lacking at front edge, text affected by tear but present. Pagination jumps from 264 to 331, but text continuous. Item #B6871
Price: $3,750.00