Beschreibung:

PYRARD DE LAVAL, François (1601-1611). Voyage... contenant sa navigation aux Indes Orientales, Maldives, Moluques, & au Bresil .... Paris: Louis Billaine, 1679. 'Most complete edition’ (Howgego) of the dramatic account of Pyrard de Laval, a French merchant seaman, of his voyage to India. Upon being shipwrecked on the Maldives in 1602, he remained there for five years, when he learned the local language and studied the culture and natural history. Following his eventual escape, he proceeded to Brazil, Goa, Hindustan and Cochin. His book included practical advice for French traders travelling to Asia and was an immediate success. This is th e first edition edited by Pierre Duval, Geographer to the King, corrected and enlarged, and with a map showing the route of the voyage drawn by Duval himself, but with the vocabulary of the first edition of 1611 suppressed. Alden & Landis 679/105; Borba de Moraes II, 694; Howgego P168; Sabin 66882. Three parts in one, quarto (236 x 175mm). Engraved folding map, woodcut head- and tailpieces (title browned at edges, small section replaced, and with small repair on verso, a few other leaves browned at edges, ê1, I:Ss1-2 and II:Ee1 browned, repaired tear in Aa3, and î1, small dampstain at fore-edge of last few leaves). Contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt spine, sprinkled ed ges (rebacked, preserving original backstrip, repairs at extremities). Provenance : old bibliographical note on endpaper – early pen trial and vignettes on rear pastedown – ?inscription removed from endpaper.