93 - CARSTEN NIEBUHR: Reize naar Arabie en andere omliggende Landen van Carsten Niebuhr. Amsterdam, 1776-1780

CARSTEN NIEBUHR: Reize naar Arabie en andere omliggende Landen van Carsten Niebuhr. Amsterdam, 1776-1780 First edition in Dutch, very richly illustrated with one hundred twenty-five (125) large copper-engraved plates, many of which appeared only in this edition. Large in 4to, complete in two volumes. Contemporary leather over hard paper boards, binding with some wear but perfectly solid, spines a little scuffed in two small parts (one in each volume). Some waterstaining between p. 258 and p. 320 of the first volume, otherwise text very clean and bright. Collation: half-title, title [7], [6], 484 p., [2]; half-title, title [16], 455 p., [2]; and 125 plates (many folded), including thirty-two (32) maps. Overall very good. Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815), a cartographer and mathematician, became one of the greatest explorers of the 18th century. He took part in the great Royal Danish Arabia scientific expedition prepared by the Danish king and was the only member to survive and return. The fifteen-member team arrived in Constantinople in spring 1761 and spent time there. A new map of the city was prepared (published only in this edition) and several monuments studied scientifically. Before reaching Arabia through the Red Sea in early 1763, the team traveled to Egypt and Sinai. Arabia proved extremely dangerous, and only Niebuhr survived, arriving in Bombay in 1764. He then continued his own journey, traveling through Persia and visiting Persepolis in 1765, before returning via Baghdad and Aleppo in Palestine. After visiting Cyprus, he crossed Anatolia and through Proussa and reached Constantinople again in late 1766, returning to Copenhagen in 1767. Niebuhr’s production during this expedition was extraordinary. He prepared several maps and charts of places then unknown, practically the first reliable scientific maps of the Red Sea, Yemen, and most of Arabia. He also completed 28 town plans of significant historical value because of their uniqueness for that period. This edition contains remarkable plates (both maps and views) and is very richly illustrated. References: Atabey 873 (French edition), not in Blackmer. The Dutch edition is rare.