Richly illustrated edition. A fine set, attractively bound in polished calf, of this richly illustrated edition of the important accounts of Olearius and Mandelslo, edited by Van der Aa.

Olearius (Adam Oehlschlaeger, 1603-71) travelled to Ispahan in the train of the Duke of Holstein on his mission to the tsar and the king of Persia. 'The head of the [Diplomatic] Mission was one Otto Brugman who according to Olearius was a boor and an idiot. [...] Brugman seems to have insulted every official along the way, molested Armenian women and heaped abuse on his subordinates. [...] Brugman came to a sad ending. He was executed on 5 May 1640 for adultery. Olearius, who had a most unpleasant stay in Persia, comments on many aspects of Persian life and what he witnessed [...] The ambassador and the author had an audience with Shah Safi whom he described as humourless. The author was probably unaware that Shah Safi was drunk most of the time' (Ghani).

Part of the same embassy, Mandelslo travelled onward to India, to observe the Mughal Empire, Siam, Japan and China. Both accounts are often, but not always, found together.

Olearius's account greatly influenced European opinion of Russia and Persia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Indeed the work contains many valuable magnetic and orographical observations, and it is of importance cartographically, especially for its large map of the river Volga and the "Nova Delineatio Persiae et Confiniorvm veteri longe accurator edita", which is the first realistic map of Iran that corrects the location and form of the Caspian Sea. The numerous illustrations include a large folding plate of Riga, and fine views of Tver, Danzig, Moscow, Kazan, Samara, Bagdad and Ispahan among many others.

Two volumes folio (32.5 x 21 cm). First work with half-title, title, [32] pp., 560 columns on [280] pp., with engraved portrait of the author, 2 folding and 10 double-page engraved maps, 2 folding, 17 double-page and 2 full-page engraved plates, and 40 engravings in text; Second work with half-title, title, additional engraved title, 565-1108 columns on [272], [21] pp. table and privilege, with 8 double-page engraved plates and 19 engravings in text, some plates by Nicolas Witsen; contemporary blonde calf, spines in seven compartments, red morocco lettering piece to second, others others with gilt centre tool, broad gilt dividers, occasional light browning and offsetting, hinges a bit weak, overall a fine fresh set.