Voyages and Travels in the Levant;

First English edition of the first systemic work on the natural history of the Holy Land. The first part of the work describes the journey through Egypt, Palestine ands Jerusalem, Syria, Cyprus, and Turkey; the second part of the work describes the natural history divided into chapters on quadrupeds, birds, amphibians, insects, worms, plants, and further chapters on medicine and remedies.

The work appeared originally in Swedish in 1757 under the title "Iter Palestinium". Hasselquist was a student of Linnaeus, who inspired him to undertake the study of the natural history of Palestine. Linnaeus helped him raise money for the journey which Hasselquist commenced in 1749. He died in 1752, his work not finished. Linnaeus arranged for the posthumous publication of the book.

First English edition; 8vo (21.5 x 13.5 cm); folding map as frontispiece, armorial bookplate to pastedown; contmporary full polished calf, spine in six gilt compartments with gilt morocco lettering piece, a little rubbing to spine, a very good copy in attractive period calf; viii, 456 pp.

Atabey 564; cf. Blackmer 792 (French edition); Tobler p130.