213 - BELON (Pierre). Observations on Various Curiosities and Memorable Things Found in Greece, Asia, India, Egypt, Arabia, and Other Foreign Lands. Paris, Gilles Corrozet, 1555. In-4, fawn sheepskin, double cold-tooled border, gilt fleurons at the corners, diamond-shaped cartouche in the center flanked by the initials I and T, decorated spine (contemporary binding).

BELON (Pierre). Observations on Various Curiosities and Memorable Things Found in Greece, Asia, India, Egypt, Arabia, and Other Foreign Lands. Paris, Gilles Corrozet, 1555. In-4, fawn sheepskin, double cold-tooled border, gilt fleurons at the corners, diamond-shaped cartouche in the center flanked by the initials I and T, decorated spine (contemporary binding). Edition adorned with a portrait of the author on the verso of the last preliminary leaf, and numerous woodcut illustrations in the text (animals, costumes, etc.). Pierre Belon (1518–1564), a leading French scientist of his time, traveled to the Levant in 1547–1548 and, upon his return, published an account of his journey, which took him to Constantinople, Egypt, Syria, and other regions of Asia Minor. The first edition appeared in 1553. A bookplate has been scraped off the lower margin of the title page; there is some soiling. The fold-out map of Mount Sinai is missing, as is often the case. Water stains and light foxing on several leaves. Stained binding; spine and corners repaired; small cracks on the back cover. Expert: Mr. Dominique Courvoisier