Copenhague, Nicolas M�ller, 1783. In-4� (26 x 20), pp. (2)+XLIII+(3)+372+(2) di Errata, con grande vignetta allegorica inc. al frontespizio e 25 tavv. f.t. inc. su rame da Defehrt, Baurenfeind e Martin, num. I-XXV, di cui la IV e la V (Une feuille du Koran en caract�res kufiques) colorate a tempera; la XVI (Exercices militaires des Arabes d'Yemen) di cm. 28,5 x 43; la XIX (Le golfe persique) su foglio doppio; la XX (Le golfe arabique) di cm. 78 x 25,5; la XXI (La grande mosqu�e � la M�kke) di cm. 25,5 x 19; le XXIII e XXIV (la Carte du voyage de Su�s au Mont Sina� e il Plan de la partie sept. du golfe arabique & de la ville de Su�s) su foglio doppio; e la XXV (Carte de l'Yemen et d'une partie de l'Arabie heureuse), di cm. 60 x 40, con i confini territoriali acquerellati. Leg. piena pelle marmorizzata epoca, qualche spellatura e piccole corrosioni ai piatti in corrispondenza della marmorizzazione, alcuni restauri alle cuffie e alle cerniere; ma internamente fresco e marginoso esemplare. (1667) Prima edizione della traduzione francese, eseguita dal ministro di culto protestante Mourier sull'E.O in tedesco pubblicata l'anno precedente a Copenaghen, di questa importantissima opera del danese Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815), "the importance of whose travels in the Middle-East has only lately been appreciated" (P.M.M., n. 267). La tradizione scandinava di studi sui paesi del Medio oriente indusse re Federico V di Danimarca ad inviare un gruppo di scienziati ad esplorare l'Egitto, l'Arabia e la Siria. Nei sei anni del viaggio (1761-67) perirono tutti ad eccezione di Niebuhr, che, appena rientrato in patria, si dedic� alla compilazione di quest'opera, assai importante per gli studi sulle antiche iscrizioni, sulle tavolette cuneiformi e sui manoscritti kufici. Assai interessanti sono anche le grandi mappe del Golfo persico e del Golfo arabico come pure la grande carta dello Yemen e quella dell'Oman. L'opera � divisa in 2 parti. La prima tratta principalmente del clima, religione, sette, carattere, costumi, ospitalit�, cibo (le pp. 48-49 sono dedicate al caff�, alla sua preparazione e tostatura dei semi), cerimonie, punizioni, abiti, circoncisione, lingua e dialetti, monetazione, scrittura, poligamia, natalit�, agricoltura degli arabi, nonch� delle loro scienze esatte ed occulte, poesia, astronomia, astrologia, medicina etc. La seconda parte � pressoch� interamente dedicata allo Yemen, e oltre a trattarne storia, forme di governo, esercito, commerci etc. descrive accuratamente tutte le province che lo compongono, oltre all'Oman e agli stati indipendenti del Golfo persico. Un capitolo � dedicato ai Beduini, o Arabes errans, mentre l'ultimo tratta del Nilo, della sua foce e delle maree del golfo arabico. "Niebuhr's Description of Arabia was a work of the highest value, and has probably never been surpassed as a description of Yemen" (Baker, Hist. of Geographical Discovery and Exploration, p. 192). Qu�rard, Fr. Litt., VI/416. Brunet, IV, col 74: "Premi�re �d. de cette traduction".

Seller Inventory # 01667

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title

Description de l'Arabie d'apres les observations et recherches faites dans le pays meme.

Binding

Hardcover

Edition

1st Edition

Seller catalogs

Store Description

Alessandro Soave established the Soave Antiquarian Bookshop in 1937 at the close of a long and diversified experience which began in the office of his well-known Turin stock-broker father. Then, after the Great War, in which he served as the commanding officer of mountain artillery battery, he was a barrister at the Turin Bar. In 1921, Alessandro left Italy and, thanks to the considerable independent means provided by his family, he embarked on a successful artistic career as a sculptor; first, in the ?roaring twenties?, with a studio, in Berlin, and in the Thirties he moved on to Montparnasse. These periods were interspersed with spells in Turin for exhibitions with his friends and famous Italian artists Menzio and Spazzapan. Alessandro Soave passed away in 1957. The bookshop closed its activity for a while but was reopened by his wife, Elena M�dail, a literature teacher in Turin Lyceums. Elena was the daughter of Turin Prefect Enrico M�dail, the nephew of Giuseppe Francesco M�dail, the man who conceived the Frejus Railway Tunnel under the French-Italian Alps. Emilio Soave, Alessandro?s son, while still an arts undergraduate at Turin University, began helping his mother in the bookshop. Under the guiding hand of mentor Marino Parenti, the well-known Florentine bibliophile and bibliographer, Emilio started the publication of a series of small but refined catalogues of antiquarian books, which, over the years, began appearing more regularly. Emilio?s copious and well-documented dissertation entitled The Typographic Industry in Piedmont from the beginning of the 18th century to King Charles Albert?s Statute was later published in a large volume by Gribaudi. This dissertation was then followed by a series of essays and research papers in the field of contemporary history and a spell as a lecturer at Turin University. In the early-1970s Emilio?s elder brother joined the bookshop. Vittorio had worked in the engineering industry for a number of local companies. Vittorio then moved on to London, where he married and worked as a civil servant. He then moved to Paris to work for a French bank. On his return to Italy he worked as a translator for the leading publishers, Einaudi, and also taught civil law and economics in an Accountancy School. With Vittorio?s arrival, the bookshop slowly changed from a part-time hobby of the founder into a solid commercial concern, which enjoyed a good reputation for the reliability and scholarship of its owners and the publication of a series of catalogues in the fields of economics and social sciences, mathematics and physics, and on such monographic works as The History of the Waldenses, Piedmont between the French Revolution and Napoleonic Rule, The 1821 Piedmontese Revolution, The Jacobite Period in the Kingdom of Sardinia, De Occulta Philosophia, De Societate Jesu, and so on. Vittorio Soave was appointed for two four-year terms as President of ALAI (the Italian Booksellers? Association) which he boosted by providing it with a proper administrative frame and furthering its national and international visibility through the 1986 ILAB Congress and Book Fair in Venice. Whilst Vittorio was in office, ALAI joined the first Turin Salone del Libro (Book Fair) and in 1995 the first Antiquarian Book Fair in Florence. Vittorio Soave also served on the Board of the ILAB Committee from 1988 to 1992.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

LIBRERIA ANTIQUARIA SOAVE
VIA PO 48, PIANO AMMEZZATO, TORINO - TO, TO, 10123, Italy

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Right of cancellation

Shipping Terms

Shipping rates from Italy to United Kingdom

Shipping rates from Italy to United Kingdom
Order quantity	10 to 25 business days	4 to 12 business days
First item	� 7.79	� 13.85

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Detailed Seller Information

Payment Methods

Direct Debit (Personally Authorized Payment) Check PayPal Cash on Delivery (COD) Invoice Bank/Wire Transfer

Add to Wants