(Misson, Maximillian.) - A New Voyage to Italy. With curious observations on several other countries: as Germany; - 1739

A New Voyage to Italy. With curious observations on several other countries: as Germany; Switzerland; Geneva: Flanders, and Holland: Together with useful instructions for those who will travel thither. Fifth Edition with Large Additions.

Two volumes in 4. Octavo. Illustrated with 30 engraved plates, some folding, an engraved folding table, and woodcuts in the text.

The original calf binding is solid, has been rebacked and shows wear on the corners. The Plates are magnificent: clear, sharp and detailed.

Originally published at the Hague in 1691 under the title Nouveau voyage d’Italie and quickly followed with an edition printed in London in 1695. Subsequent English edition were published in 1699, 1708, 1714 and 1739. The edition offered for sale here is enlarged with new engravings added.

Famous travel account written by the French Huguenot and Paris parliament councilor Maximillan Masson (1650-1722). In 1685 he emigrated to England fleeing after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, where he quickly established his credentials and became naturalized in 1687 and changed his name to Francis Maximilian Misson. That same year he became the tutor of the grandsons of the Duke of Ormond and guided them on the Grand Tour of Europe, visiting Holland, Flanders, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. His Nouveau voyage was an account of this trip.

Based upon his travel journal it was presented in the form of a series of letters. The text is resoundingly modern, comprising the sequential exposition of first-hand factual observations, none the less augmented by the critical perspective of a protestant travelling through a Catholic country. An English translation first appeared in London in 1695, followed by a corrected second edition in 1699.

The bulk of this four part travel book covers his visits to Santa Casa at Loreto and places of interest in and near Naples and Rome, and returned by stages through Bologna, Milan, Genoa, Turin.

The fifth edition of A New Voyage to Italy (1739), originally written by Maximilien Misson, reflects the great popularity of this widely read travel narrative. Structured in two volumes, each divided into two parts, the work presents a detailed description of Italy as it was experienced by an early-modern traveler. Misson’s writing blends observation, commentary, and historical notes, giving readers a wide survey of Italian cities, monuments, customs, religious institutions, and political life. The 1739 edition continues the tradition of earlier printings but is notable for being expanded and polished, making it accessible to English readers who sought both entertainment and practical knowledge about the Grand Tour.

The content of the volumes moves through major Italian regions—such as Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, and the Papal States—and offers insights into the daily life, government, religion, and artistic heritage of each area. Misson often contrasts Italian practices with those of northern Europe, giving the text a lively comparative tone. Discussions of architecture, libraries, churches, universities, and civic ceremonies help paint a vivid picture of eighteenth-century Italy. Because the work was aimed at curious readers rather than scholars alone, the tone is generally engaging, conversational, and at times humorous, which contributed to its lasting success.

A distinctive feature of this edition is its set of engraved plates, which accompany and enrich the narrative. These plates typically depict important buildings, city views, antiquities, and notable artworks encountered during the journey. While not highly technical, they give readers visual context and help anchor Misson’s descriptions in recognizable forms. In the 1739 printing, the plates serve both decorative and informative purposes, reinforcing the book’s role as a guide for armchair travelers as well as those planning an actual tour of Italy.