201 - China - AVRIL (Philippe). A Journey Through Various States of Europe and Asia, Undertaken to Discover a New Route to China. Containing Several Interesting Observations on Physics, Geography, Hydrography, and History. With a description of Greater Tartary and the various peoples who inhabit it. Paris, Barbin & Cie, 1692.

China - AVRIL (Philippe). A Journey Through Various States of Europe and Asia, Undertaken to Discover a New Route to China. Containing Several Interesting Observations on Physics, Geography, Hydrography, and History. With a description of Greater Tartary and the various peoples who inhabit it. Paris, Barbin & Cie, 1692. Quarto, grained calfskin, decorated ribbed spine, gilt roulette on the edges (contemporary binding). First edition illustrated with a portrait of Stanislas Jablonowski engraved by Étienne Picart, a fold-out map of Siberia and Kitay, 6 header vignettes, 6 illustrated initials, and 3 separate plates by Vallet depicting sleds, a Kalmyk Tatar, and Cossack skiffs. An account of the journey of Jesuit Father Philippe Avril (1654–1698), who was sent by Louis XIV to seek a new overland route to China but was forced to abandon his mission due to the Tsar’s prohibition against crossing Russian territory. Some wear and minor restorations; a few minor interior defects, including a small wormhole in the margin of about ten leaves.