Les Six Voyages De Monsieur Jean Baptiste Tavernier, Ecuyer Baron D'aubonne, En Turquie, En Perse, Et Aux Indes, Pendant L'espace De Quarante Ans & Par Toutes Les Routes Que L'on Peut Tenir: Accompagnez D'observations Particulieres Sur La Qualite

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Paris, Pierre Ribou, 1713

6 volumes.  17 x 10 cm.  Bound in contemporary quarter leather. Gilt lettering on spine. Marbled boards. Good bindings and covers. Red page ends. Spine rebacked. Wear to extremities.  Owner's name on FEP of each volume. Clean, unmarked pages with minimal tanning. Worming to the bottom of some pages in Volume I, IV and VI that affect the text. This is an oversized or heavy book that requires additional postage for international delivery outside of Canada and the US. 

Volume I: Perse-3 Livres, 501p., frontis, 1 foldout map, 7 foldout pl., 1 pl.; Volume II: Perse-2 Livres, 465p., 2 pl., 10 foldout pl.; Volume III: Indes-3 Livres, 401p. 1 foldout map, 3 foldout pl.; Volume IV: 367p., 6 pl., 17 foldout pl.; Volume V: 5 parts: Japon, Negociation des Deputez Perse and aux Indes, Commerce des Indes Orientales, Rouyaume de Tunquin and Histoire de la Conduite des Hollandois en Asie., 467p., 8 foldout pl.; Volume VI: Relation de L'Interieur Du Serrail du Grand Seigneur, 244p. 

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveler. Tavernier, a private individual and merchant traveling at his own expense, covered by his own account, 60,000 leagues, 120,000 miles making six voyages to Persia and India between the years 1630 to 1668.

Tavernier is best known for the discovery/purchase of the 116 carat Tavernier Blue Diamond that he subsequently sold to Louis XIV of France in 1668 for 120,000 livres the equivalent of 172,000 ounces of pure gold and a letter of ennoblement. This Diamond later was stolen during the French Revolution and was cut down to what is now known as the Hope Diamond.

Tavernier's writings show that he was a keen observer as well as a remarkable cultural anthropologist. His book became a best seller and was translated into German, Dutch, Italian and English during his lifetime. The work is frequently quoted by modern scholars writing of the period. Tavernier's journeys span from Europe to the Orient and he spent time in the Levant, Constantinople,  Baghdad, Aleppo, Alexandretta, Malta,  Tokat, Erzerum, Erivan, Persia, Isfahan,  Agra, the Kingdom of Golconda, and far as Java and even met the Great Mogul - Emperor Shah Jahan.