Du royaume de Siam [...].

2 vol., 12mo: [8]-1/96-[2 bl.]-97/330-[2]-331/436-[2], [4]-324-[1] pp.; 40 pl. (occ. soiling and foxing, marg. stains at end of vol. II).

Contemp. mottled sheep, gilt-orn. spines with raised bands, red spr. edges (rubbed, stains, heads and tails def.).

Second edition published in the same year as the first ed. in Paris of the account of the travels in Thailand made in 1687 and 1688 by de La Loubère (1642-1729), French diplomat, "envoyé extraordinaire" of Louis XIV who was hoping to convert King Narai the Great to catholicism. The expedition was a failure but de La Loubère brought back extensive information on the country (culture, education, finances, music...) which was never colonised by Europeans and made the earliest description of parachutes. Illustrated with 40 plates (17 fold. or on double pp.) representing maps and plans, botany, indigeneous people, musical scores and instruments, etc., and two headpieces incl. one armorial at dedication. A large part in vol. II deals with mathematics and magic squares ill. with some woodcuts in-text.
Ref. Cordier, Indosinica, 722. - Cox I:329.
Prov. J.H. Eyben (contemp. ms. entry, with a note in French at end of vol. II (?)).