Voyages par la Moscovie, en Perse, et aux Indes Orientales. Ouvrage enrichi de plus de 320 Tailles douces, des plus curieuses, représentant les plus belñles vuës de ces Ppaïs; leurs principales Villes; les differens habillemens des Peuples, qui habitent ces Regions eloignées; les Animaux, les Oiseaux, les Poissons et les pLantes extraordinaires, qui s'y trouvent. Avec les Antiquitez de ces Païs, et particulièrement celles du Fameux Palais de Persepolis, que les Perses appellent Chelminar. Le tout dessiné d'après Nature sur les Lieux. On y a ajouté la route qu'a suivie Mr. Isbrants, Ambassadeur de Moscovie, en traversant la Russie et la Tartarie, pour se rendre à la Chine. Et quelques Remarques contre Mrs. Chardin et Kemper. Avec une Lettre écrite à l'Auteur, sur ce sujet.

A Amsterdam, chez les Frères Wetstein, 1718. 2 volumes, folio. Frontispiece. 4 leaves. 252 pages. 110 full-page plates, including 78 folding plates (some of very large size, such as the views of Moscow and Isfahan measuring nearly 2 meters in length), and 20 engraved figures at mid-page within the text. + 1 leaf. pages 253-468. 152 plates, including 125 folding plates and 22 engraved figures at mid-page within the text. Full brown calf, decorated ribbed spine (contemporary binding). First French Edition of the important illustrated account of Cornelius Le Bruyn's journey to Russia, Persia, India and Java. During a first expedition in 1674, the Dutch traveler and painter Cornelius Le Bruyn (1652-1726) stayed in the Levant for seven years, traveling mainly in Asia Minor, Syria, the Holy Land and Egypt. On his return he had published his "Voyage to the Levant" (1702) in English and, encouraged by its success, he decided to undertake a second, more extensive expedition. In 1701, Le Bruyn therefore undertook the second of his voyages, taking a ship to the country of the Samoyeds and then heading towards Moscow. Traveling through Asia Minor, he arrived in Persia where he stayed for several months between 1704 and 1705. After leaving Persia, he went to India, Ceylon and the East Indies (i.e. Batavia) . He returned largely by the same route, staying again in Persia between 1706 and 1707, and describing in particular the ruins of Persepolis and Pasargadae. The numerous finely engraved illustrations include large folding panoramic plates of Moscow and Isfahan, views of Astrakhan, antiquities of Persepolis and the many fortresses encountered on his journey, as well as portraits of indigenous populations, and depictions of flora, fish, birds, animals, etc. Of particular note are Le Bruyn's descriptions and images of the Samoyeds and their country, among the oldest in the region. Le Bruyn also describes a meeting with William Dampier in Batavia, and describes the route taken by Everard Ysbrants Ides, the Danish ambassador to Russia to China. The work is profusely illustrated with several hundred engraved plates, including very large folding plates. Superb copy in almost new condition, from the Ménardière library with its large engraved exlibris. Brunet, III, 911 (which mentions 262 plates based on the numbering of the list of plates which does not include unnumbered plates). Chadenat, II, 5085. Chahine, 2078.