Levant.- Thévenot (Jean de) The Travels...into the Levant...viz. Into I. Turkey II. Persia. III. The East-Indies, 3 parts in 1, first English edition, second issue, engraved portrait by W.Faithorne and 3 plates, errata leaf, with letterpress sheet of Malabar alphabet and engraved illustration of Malabar cyphers, 3I4 cancelled as usual, title lacking small portions from outer margin just touching border, tear to Mm4 (no loss), 3R2 (final leaf) lacking upper outer corner with loss of a few lines of Table, a few rust spots (causing tiny holes to h1, T1 & Aa1), water-staining to lower margin of a few leaves including 2 plates but not affecting images, modern half calf, spine gilt, [Atabey 1217; ESTC R17556; Wing T887; cf. Blackmer 1650 (first edition)], folio, by H.Clark, for H.Faithorne, J.Adamson, C.Skegnes, and T.Newborough, 1687.

⁂ "Thevenot's travels mark the beginning of the grand epoch of travel and exploration in the Levant." (Blackmer).

Thevenot visited Damascus, Aleppo and Mosul, and sailed down the Tigris to Baghdad. He then went to Persia and spent five months at Ispahan and visited Shiraz before setting sail for India where he landed at Diu. He was the first European to describe the temples of Ellora. He died in Persia on his way back to Europe at the age of 34.