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MANDEVILLE, JOHN, SIR. The voiage and travaile of Sir John Maundeville, Kt. which treateth of the way to Hierusalem; and of marvayles of Inde, with other ilands and countryes. Now publish'd entire from an original ms. in the Cotton library.
London, J. Woodman, D. Lyon, and C. Davis, 1727. Second issue of the "best English edition" (Lowndes), and "the completest edition up to date" (Cox); 8vo, pp. xvi, [8], 384, [7]; title-p. printed in red and black, 19th century full red straight-grain morocco, gilt rule on covers enclosing a simple inner gilt panel, gilt fillets on spine, gilt- lettered direct, a.e.g.; some rubbing but generally very good and sound. The book was first printed in 1725. This is a reissue of it with a cancel title leaf. The last four leaves contain an 'index of obsolete words'. "This was a very popular book in its day and illustrated the general equipment of geographical ideas of the late 14th century. Long accepted as an authentic and valuable record of travel, we now know that it was a spurious relation compiled from various sources by one Jehan d'Outremeuse, a citizen of Liege, and laid on the doorstep of a fictitious knight, "Sire Jehan de Mandeville." [In fact, the real author was likely Jean de Bourgoigne, or à la Barbe, a physician from Lüttich.] The stories which filled his work were such as appealed to the credulity and love of the marvelous dear to the Middle Ages. - From Professor A. P. Newton, Travel in the Middle Ages, chapter VIII, "Travellers' Tales." Mandeville is said to have set out on his travels in 1322, and after visiting Egypt, Palestine, Tartary, India, the Indian isles, etc., returned home in 1355. His death is set at 1371." (Cox, I, 319). Fiction or not, it was used as a common travel reference for centuries, by Christopher Columbus, among other early explorers.
Offered for US$ 1750.00 by: Rulon-Miller Books ABAA/ILAB - Book number: 29416