A relation of the voyage to Siam, performed by six Jesuits sent by the French King to the Indies and China, in the year 1685, with their astrological observations, and their remarks of nattral [sic] philosophy, geography, hydrography, and history. Published in the original, by the express orders of his most Christian majesty. And now made English, and illustrated with sculptures.

8vo: engr. title-[2]-298 [= 308]-[12] pp.; 30 pl. (engr. title and title pasted on flyleaves, sm. marg. wormholes and wormtracks, occ. repaired, one single wormhole in text in begin., lower margin of p. 13 repaired, sl. marg. damp stains, some soiling, stronger at O, quire N and some margins sl. browned).

Contemp. mottled sheep, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, red spr. edges (part. faded, sl. rubbed, staining, loss to head).

Rare first English edition (1st French 1686-1689) of the first voyage to Siam by the French Jesuite missionary Tachard (1651-1712) accompanied with Jean de Fontaney, Joachim Bouvet, Jean-François Gerbillon, Louis Le Comte and Claude de Visdelou. Illustrated with an engr. title showing the reception of the Siamese ambassadors by Louis XIV and 30 plates, of which 21 fold., representing maps (i.a. of Batavia and the Cape of Good Hope), indigeneous people, fauna and flora, etc. Title and engr. title ruled in black & red.
Ref. Cordier, Indosinica, 948-949. - Cox I:328. - Not in DBS, Nissen, ZBI (other ed.).