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8 volumes. Rare First Edition of Volumes 1-4. 1704. First Editions of Vol 5-6. 1732. Re-issue of Vol 7-8. 1747, first published in 1745. Comprising two works in matching bindings, containing over 200 engraved plates (many double-page or folding), engraved and woodcut illustrations throughout. A splendid set of the two great voyage anthologies of the early eighteenth century, in handsome contemporary matched bindings. This set contains the Churchill anthology in its First exceedingly Rare edition printed in 4 volumes, first editions of the additional 2 volumes (5-6) which were first published in the 6 volume second edition of 1732 and a re-issue of the 1745 edition with new title pages dated 1747 of the supplementary Osborne series in 2 volumes compiled from Lord Oxford s library by Thomas Osborne and issued as volumes 7 and 8 of the set. According to Sabin these are a necessary accompaniment although sets are generally found on the market in six volumes only. This combination of Churchill s Voyages with Osborne s extension is considered to be the best because of its greater inclusiveness (Hill). Sabin notes that Many of the books in this collection have not appeared elsewhere in English . An important and profusely illustrated collection of travel reports, compiled by the brothers Awnsham and John Churchill, based on Hakluyt and Purchas. It includes the accounts of Martin Baumgarten (Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, Syria), Thomas Roe, Philipp Balde and Johan Nieuhoff (East Indies), J. Gemelli Careri (Turkey, Persia, India), Nicholas Rolamb (Constantinople), John Barbot (West Africa, with a chapter on Mahomet and his Alcoran ), as well as of Yemen and various journeys to China, Korea, Greenland, Iceland, Africa, North and South America (including Columbus). This is a very valuable collection, both for its range of coverage and for the fact that it gives the original accounts. (Hill). Followed by Osborne s Oxford Voyages , the first volume comprises travels mainly in the Near and Middle East, while the second volume comprises voyages to India, East Asia, the East Indies, Africa, and North America. The second volume contains the first English edition of Johannes Nieuhof s Voyages and Travels, into Brasil, and the East-Indies, first published in Dutch in 1682. It is divided into two parts; the first being concerned with Nieuhof s stay in Brazil and the second relates to his voyages in the East Indies and South Africa. The second part on his voyage to the East Indies, contains a detailed description of areas and pearl fishing in the Arabian Gulf mainly Oman, Bahrain and al-Qatif, and is the first printed record in English to mention Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bani Yas and other important place names. Thus, the present volume constitutes the earliest printed source in English for the history of the U.A.E and Qatar.
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