Lot 273
Sri Lanka.- Knox (Robert) An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, in the East-Indies, first edition, Printed by Richard Chiswell, Printer to the Royal Society, 1681.
Hammer Price: £2,000
Description
Sri Lanka.- Knox (Robert) An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, in the East-Indies, first edition, title within double-rule border, engraved folding map and 15 plates, one with repaired tears, licence f. before title, without the portrait (as usual), advertisement f. at end, the odd spot or burn-hole, some marginal browning and staining, later calf, worn, upper cover and licence leaf detached, lower cover almost so, [Wing K742], folio,Printed by Richard Chiswell, Printer to the Royal Society, 1681.
⁂ The first account of Sri Lanka in English, and one of the sources for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. While sailing for Persia in 1658, Knox's ship lost its mast in a storm and was forced to put ashore on Ceylon. Knox, along with his elder brother and crew, was captured by King Rajasinha II of Kandy and refused permission to leave the kingdom. Knox and a companion eventually escaped after 19 years of captivity and fled to a Dutch fort in the north of the island.
Provenance: Frederick Lock (bookplate and ink name on verso of licence leaf).
Description
Sri Lanka.- Knox (Robert) An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, in the East-Indies, first edition, title within double-rule border, engraved folding map and 15 plates, one with repaired tears, licence f. before title, without the portrait (as usual), advertisement f. at end, the odd spot or burn-hole, some marginal browning and staining, later calf, worn, upper cover and licence leaf detached, lower cover almost so, [Wing K742], folio,Printed by Richard Chiswell, Printer to the Royal Society, 1681.
⁂ The first account of Sri Lanka in English, and one of the sources for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. While sailing for Persia in 1658, Knox's ship lost its mast in a storm and was forced to put ashore on Ceylon. Knox, along with his elder brother and crew, was captured by King Rajasinha II of Kandy and refused permission to leave the kingdom. Knox and a companion eventually escaped after 19 years of captivity and fled to a Dutch fort in the north of the island.
Provenance: Frederick Lock (bookplate and ink name on verso of licence leaf).
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