BELON DU MANS Pierre, “Les Observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables, trouvees en Grece, Asie, Iudée, Egypte, Arabie, & autre pays estranges”, Paris: H. de Marnef et la veuve Cavellat, 1588.

Fourth edition, including 45 in total woodcut illustrations: 43 in text of which 1 map of the Hellespont, 1 full-page map of the Alexandria, and one folding map of Mount Sinai and the Saint Catherines Monastery (the usual folding plate of the current 1588 edition is the folding map of Athos and Lemnos island, while the Mt Sinai folding plate accompanies the second 1554 edition). Head and tailpieces, large woodcut engraved initials. Printer’s device on title page and colophon.

Contemporary full vellum, manuscript title on spine, lightly soiled and creased. Extensive handwritten text on front pastedown bearing 19th century dates. Spotting. Old marginalia and notes on title page and most of the pages. Rear joint cracked. Ex-libris label on rear paste-down.

Pierre Belon du Mans was one of the first explorers of Greece and the Levant. In 1546, he joined Ambassador d’Aramon’s diplomatic mission to the East that lasted 3 years. His remarkable work includes valuable information about the geography, natural history, botany, archaeology with very interesting insights on the customs and manners of the people of the places visited.  His work was first published in 1553. .

Atabey 94, Adams B-565, Brunet I 762, Blackmer 115 (second edition)