Bruin, C., De [De Bruyn or Bruijn] - Reizen over Moskovie, door Persie en Indie: verrykt met driehondert kunstplaten - 1714

The complete title is: Reizen over Moskovie, door Persie en Indie: verrykt met driehondert kunstplaten, vertoonende de beroemste lantschappen en steden, ook de byzondere dragten, beesten, gewassen en planten, die door gevonden worden: voor al derzelver oudheden, en wel voornamentlyk heel uitvoerig, die van het heerlijke en van oudts de geheele werrelt door befaemde hof van Persepolis, by den Persianen Tchilminar genaemt. Alles door den Autheur zelf met groote naeukeurigheit na 't leven afgetekent, en nooit voor dezen in 't ligt gebragt.

Amsterdam, R. and G. Wetstein, J. Oosterwyk and H. van de Gaete, 1714. Folio (33.3 x 21.1 cm). Title page in red and black; engraved portrait of de Bruyn (by G. Kneller), [vi], 472, [xii] pp.; 254 (of 260) numbered engraved plates (many double, folded), two large maps, and 36 large text engravings, not numbered, including portraits, views, etc. Contemporary full speckled calf. Spine with six raised bands, compartments rich gilt with floral vigenettes and corner pieces, and gilt title.
First edition, second issue of one of the most richly illustrated voyages through Russia, Persia (Iran) and adjacent countries and territories, made by the Dutch painter Cornelis de Bruin (as spelled on title page), or de Bruyn (as spelled in the portrait) (1652-1727). He went by sea from Amsterdam along the coast of Norway, above the polar circle to Archangel, and travelled southwards by river and overland through Russia and the Caspian Sea to Persia, the Gulf and by ship again onward to Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), back to Persia, and homewards across the Mediterranean. It is an extensive work important to naval and travel history, and includes beautiful, large, panoramic views of, for instance, Archangel, Moscow, and "Spahan" (= Isfahan, Iran), some impressively long when unfolded. A few plates disbound or with tears or a part missing, but mostly complete and in good condition. The work contains a good deal of zoological illustrations; hence it is recorded in Claus Nissen's Zoologische Buchillustration. Most illustrations are, as stated in the title, from drawings made on the spot by De Bruin himself. The work was dedicated to Anton Ulrich, Duke of Brunswyk and Lunenburg. This edition is identical to the 1711 edition published for the author by Willem and David Goerree. References: Henze I, 378; Nissen ZBI, 631N; Tiele, 207, 209.