Voyages d'iIbn Batoutah. Texte Arabe, Accompagné d Une Traduction. Collection d'Ouvrages Orientaux publiés par la Société Asiatique. 4 volumes
Paris: A l'Imprimerie Nationale, 1874-1879. Various. Three quarter brown cloth over marbeled boards. Thick octavos (standard size). Slight wear to edges and corners of boards. Spines slightly faded but Gilt titles still bright and legible. Name of former owner, Prof. James Bellamy,written in ink at half title of each volume. 4 volumes: v. 1 (2nd edition) xlv, 443 p. 1874 ; v. 2 (2nd edition) xiv, 465 p. 1877 ; v. 3 (2nd edition) xxvi, 476 p, 1877; v. 4 (2nd edition) 479p. 1879. Index in v. 4. In French and Arabic. Does not include the later index. The uncommon first complete translation of this travel narrative by the now famous 14th century Berber traveller and scholar from North Africa. He left on his first hajj in 1325 and for 24 years followed the trade routes, visiting the Crimea, Anatolia, all over the Near East, Eastern Africa, India, and Asia including China and Sumatra in 25 years of voyaging. On his brief return home duing the Black Death, he shortly after continued on to Granada in Spain and thence to western Saharan Africa. This work was known in the full title as "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" and the shorter title, the Rihla (The Travels). This citical work is drawn from 5 manuscripts (2 complete) acquired uy the French in Algeria and deposited in the Bibliotheque Nationale. Uncommon. Very good. Item #20239
Price: $4,950.00