First English Edition, and Possible Inspiration for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe"
Three Years Travels from Moscow Over-Land to China:. thro' Great Ustiga, Siriania, Permia, Sibiria, Daour, Great Tartary, &c. to Peking. Containing, An exact and particular Description of the Extent and Limits of those Countries, and the Customs of the Barbarous Inhabitants; with reference to their Religion, Government, Marriages, daily Imployments, Habits, Habitations, Diet, Death, Funerals, &c. Written by his Excellency E. Ysbrants Ides, Ambassador from the Czar of Muscovy to the Emperor of China. Illustrated with a large Map of the Countries, drawn by the Ambassador upon his Journey, and many curious Cuts. To which is annex'd an accurate description of China, done originally by a Chinese Author: With several Remarks, by way of Commentary, alluding to what our European Authors have writ of that Country. Printed in Dutch by the Direction of Burgomaster Witzen, formerly Ambassador in England; and now faithfully done into English.
London: Printed for W. Freeman, J. Walthoe, T. Newborough, J. Nicholson, and R. Parker, 1706.
Full Description:
IDES, Evert Ysbrants. Three Years Travels from Moscow Over-Land to China... London: Printed for W. Freeman, J. Walthoe, T. Newborough, J. Nicholson, and R. Parker, 1706.
First English edition. Small quarto (9 9/16 x 7 1/2 inches; 244 x 190 mm)). [12], 191, 190-210 pp. Complete with an engraved alegorical additonal title-page (dated 1705), a large folding map and 30 engraved plates, eight of which are folding.
Contemporary paneled calf, rebacked to style. Spine with red morocco spine label. Top edge dyed brown, others speckled red. Some general light foxing and toning. Overall a very good copy.
"In 1692, Evert Ysbrants Ides was asked by Tsar Peter to serve as ambassador to the Emperor of China. Before his return to Moscow in 1695, he passed through many countries and regions, including Perm, Siberia, and 'Great Tartary' (West Asia)." (NYPL).
"Tsar Peter Alekseevich invested resources in maintaining his relationship with China, dispatching an embassy in 1692. He appointed a foreign diplomat, Eberhard Isbrand Ides, to act as his ambassador and Adam Brand from Lubeck as the embassy’s secretary.18 The embassy itself included more than 250 men, including nobles and merchants, both to negotiate new terms following Nerchinsk but also to investigate the market in Beijing, 'where Silk, Cloath, Gold and Silver, Jewels and all sorts of fine Manufactures, were sold.' Ides also toured 'the Emperor’s Dispensary, which I was willing to make some Scrutiny into, it being full stock’d with all sorts of Roots, Herbs, and Med’cines. ... Next to this was a Toy-shop, which I enter’d, and bought what I like.'" (Oxford Research Encyclopedia).
"Defoe’s novel [The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe] paints an impressive picture of Russia. The writer himself had never been to this part of the world, and he based the protagonist’s adventures on the true tales of travelers... Izbran Ides and Adam Brand, who had traveled from Moscow to Peking." (Robinson Crusoe and Daniel Defoe’s guide to Siberia. Ekaterina Aleeva).
ESTC T55175
HBS 69427.
$4,000.
Price: $4,000.00
Item #69427