288 - (Roque, J. de la). Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, par l'Ocean Oriental, & le Détroit de la Mer Rouge. Fait par les Francois pour la premiere foie, dans les années 1708, 1709 & 1710. Paris, Cailleau, 1716. 8 leaves, 403 pages, 6 leaves with 1 folded copperplate engraving and 3 folded copperplate engravings. Small octavo. Contemporary gilt-stamped leather binding with spine label and coat of arms supralibros (scuffed and bumped, a few small wormholes).

(Roque, J. de la). Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, par l'Ocean Oriental, & le Détroit de la Mer Rouge. Fait par les Francois pour la premiere foie, dans les années 1708, 1709 & 1710. Paris, Cailleau, 1716. 8 leaves, 403 pages, 6 leaves with 1 folded copperplate engraving and 3 folded copperplate engravings. Small octavo. Contemporary gilt-stamped leather binding with spine label and coat of arms supralibros (scuffed and bumped, a few small wormholes). Gay 3680; Brunet III, 850; Cf. Mueller, Coffee 182. – First edition of this first French research expedition; an edition appeared in Amsterdam in the same year. – The French Orientalist and journalist Jean de la Roque (1661–1745) participated in two expeditions to the Arabian Peninsula. His work is based on the letters and private notes of Captain Merveille and contains a detailed description of the coffee plantations and the coffee trade in Yemen. The three copperplate engravings depict the coffee tree, its leaves, and fruit. It also includes a report by Mr. de la Grelaudière, who traveled with two surgeons from Mocha to Muab to treat the King of Yemen. – The map shows the Kingdom of Yemen. – Title with the owner's stamp of the Danish politician Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg (1815–1892; Prime Minister from 1870–1874).