68-1 - PICART (Bernard) - BERNARD (Jean-Frédéric). RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS OF ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD. Amsterdam, J.-F. Bernard, 1723–1737. [Followed by:] RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS OF IDOLATROUS PEOPLES. Six folio volumes in marbled brown calfskin, spined with raised bands richly decorated with gilt fleurons and scrolls, title labels in garnet morocco, gilt volume numbers (contemporary binding). Volume 1: (6) folios, XLII pp., (4) folios, 153 pp., 13 plates - 206 pp., (1) folio of errata, 23 plates - Volume 2: (2) folios, 197 pp., (1) p. - 104 pp., 27 pl. - Volume 3: (2) ff., 211 pp., (1) p., 34 plates - 49 pp., (1) p. - 150 pp., (1) f., 11 plates - Volume 4*: (2) ff., 386 pp., 38 pp., 84 pp., (1) f., 58 pl. - Volume 4**: (2) ff., 13 pp., (3) pp., 348 pp., 13 plates - Volume 5: (2) ff., 291 pp., (1) p., 32 pp., 160 pp., 26 plates. Bindings worn; some variations in the gilt lettering; leather covers worn; cap bands damaged with missing sections; corners worn; scattered foxing and browning, a few faint marginal water stains, minimal worm damage, limited to one then two pinhead-sized holes in the upper right corner of Volume IV, with no damage to the text. FIRST EDITION OF THIS MASSIVE WORK DEDICATED TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES, bringing together descriptions of Judaism, Catholicism, Protestant denominations, Islam, and the religions of the Americas and Asia. The text, compiled primarily by Jean-Frédéric Bernard, with contributions from Bruzen de La Martinière, is accompanied by abundant copperplate engravings by Bernard Picart and his collaborators: ceremonies, costumes, sanctuaries, religious objects, and funeral rites. Since the composition and volume numbering of this publication are complex, the volumes are described below in the order of the volume numbers gilded on the spine of the copy, which do not always correspond to the information on the title pages: Vol. 1 (1723): Jews and Catholic Christians - Vol. 2 (1723): Continuation of Catholic Ceremonies - Vol. 3 (1723): West Indies, or America - East Indies - Vol. 4* (1728): Continuation of the East Indies—China and Japan—Persians and Peoples of Africa—Vol. 4** (1736): Anglicans, Quakers, Anabaptists, etc. - Vol. 5 (1737): Muslims, followed by the “Supplement and Corrections,” then the tables. The set includes 205 ILLUSTRATIONS SEPARATE FROM THE TEXT, several of which are double-page spreads or fold-outs; the last one was partially colored at the time. INCOMPLETE COPY of the volume devoted to “Greeks and Protestants,” published in 1733, corresponding to “Volume V” in Cohen’s description and comprising 19 plates. The general frontispiece is also missing, as is often the case since it was published later. Despite wear on the bindings, the text block is generally fresh, with the plates in GOOD CONDITION and of a BEAUTIFUL PRINT. ¶ Brunet, I-1742 - Cohen, 134: “The first edition is preferred because it contains the first proofs” - Sabin, 62600.