‎SHAW Thomas :‎
‎Travels, or Observations Relating to Several Parts of Barbary and the Levant.‎

‎" Oxford, printed at the Theatre, 1738, in-folio, 35 cm, halftitle + title (printed in red and black with vignet of the Theatre) + (4)(dedication) + xv pp + (1)(errata) + 442 pp + (2)(separate title of a Collection of such papers...) + 60 pp + 1 plate + (8)nn pp (index) + 34 engraved plates (including a leaf of engraved music, an illustration of the Peutinger map and six folding maps). (Complete). Bound in contemporary full calf with a gilt raised spine with a red leather title label, red sprinkled edges, fine double gilt fillet on both covers, front cover with some scratches and some tiny loss of leather, further a binding with minimal wear. Interior crisp and stainless. Very fine copy of the first edition. Pritzel 8649. Nissen 3839. Blackmer Sale 307 (lists a copy with the supplement of 1746). Lowndes 2372; ''These Travels have been universally esteemed, not only for their accuracy and fidelity, but on account of the illustrations they contain of natural history, of the classic authors, and especially of the Scriptures.'' A handsomely printed work, the best description of North Africa of the period. The author visited Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Cyprus and most of North Africa, and provides much material on Tunis and Algeria. A section on Lebanon is included in the description of the Levant. More than 640 species of plants are described. There is also a list of the rarer plants of Barbary, Egypt and Arabia.."‎

Reference : 36059

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