Breydenbach (Bernhard Von).

Le Grant voyage de Jherusalem. Paris, [Nicolas Higman for] François Regnault, 1517. In-4, black morocco, diamond-rectangle decoration composed of double gilt fillets and fleurons, spine decorated, fillet on the edges, red morocco lining framed with gilt fillets, garlands and fleurons, gilt edges (Gruel). Second edition, rare and sought after, of the first French translation of this famous account of a journey to the Holy Land, due to the care of Nicole Le Huen, a Carmelite from Pont-Audemer. This edition is the third published in France, but the first in Paris and the first in in-4 format, after two in-folio editions given in Lyon, one in 1488, and the other, in a different translation, by Jean Hersin, in 1489. The original edition of Breydenbach's relation, in Latin, dates from 1486. The first part is a description of the Holy Land, following the journey made in 1483 by Bernhard von Beydenbach, dean of Mainz Cathedral: from Venice to Corfu, Modon, Crete, Rhodes and Jaffa, before arriving in Jerusalem, then through the desert to Mount Sinai, and finally to Cairo and Alexandria on the way back. Nicole Le Huen, the French translator, has also added to Breydenbach's account elements that he himself had observed during his own pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The second part, which was not included in previous editions, is a history of the crusades drawn from various sources - a compilation of anonymous works and texts adapted or translated by Vincent de Beauvais, Sebastian Mannerot, Giovanni Rotta and Antonio Fracanzano da Montalboddo. The initial title is printed in red and black; that of the second part is decorated with the elephant mark of François Regnault. The illustration, entirely wood-engraved, includes two very large folded plates outside the text: a view of Jerusalem with the monogram of Oronce Fine - whose first work this would be - and a scene showing, on either side of a ballad by Oronce Fine, the pope surrounded by Christian princes and the Turkish army, as well as 57 figures in the text (with repetitions), including alphabets, views of the Holy Sepulchre, scenes of the Crusades, a representation of Charles Martel, etc., and numerous initials with sieved background. A very fine copy, particularly well preserved, in a luxurious binding by Gruel. From the library of Georgios J. Arvanitidi, with bookplate. Copy a little short of margins (225 x 155 mm). Joints slightly cracked. Bechtel, B-395 - Essling, n°366 - Moreau, II, n°1553 - Rothschild, III, n°2635 - Davies : Breydenbach, IX - Brunet, I, 1252 - Graesse, I, 538 - Schwarzfuchs, n°10.