Sir Thomas HERBERT Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Africa and Asia the Great.

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Sir Thomas Herbert. Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Africa and Asia the Great. Describing More particularly the Empires of Persia and Industan: Interwoven with such remarkable Occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later Times. As also, many other rich and Famous Kingdoms in the Oriental India, with the Isles adjacent. Severally relating their Religion, Language, Custom and Habit: As also proper Observations concerning them.  London: Printed by R. Everingham, for R. Scot, T. Basset, F. Wright, and R. Chiswell, 1677. Fourth edition (pp. 399, Index), “In this fourth Impression are added (by the Author now living) as well many Additions throughout the whole Work, as also several Sculptures, never before Printed.” Folio (30 cm) in full polished calf, gilt title in compartment on spine; engraved half-title page, title page; many engraved illustrations in text (e.g., a Sharke fish, an Inhabitant of Angola, a Man and Woman of Industant, a Man and a Woman at the Cape of Good Hope, and in the chapter on Mauritius a sketch of the Dodo),  and several plates (Temple of Belus, Babylon), maps of India, Persia and Southeast Asia. With the bookplate, signature, and probably small bits of marginalia of John N. Wheler —possibly a son (among many) of the travel writer George Wheler. Neatly replaced spine, tips a bit worn, one illustration repaired. Text and illustrations clean and bright; fine tight binding. In 1627 Thomas Herbert (1606- 1682), at the behest of the Earl of Pembroke, secured an appointment in the suite of the ambassador for Persia, Sir Dodmore Cotton, and sailed by way of the Cape of Good Hope and Madagasgar for Persia where they landed at Gambrun early the next year. The subsequent deaths of Cotton and his companion, Sir Robert Shirley, not withstanding, Herbert travelled extensively in the interior of the region, including a visit to Baghdad, and during his return journey Ceylon, Mauritius, and St. Helena. There is more about his career and publications in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  A near Fine copy.