The Journal of John Jourdain, 1608-1617,

John Jourdain (d.1619) was a captain in the service of the English East India Company (EIC), and the first president of the EIC Council of India. He conducted the first English trading voyage to the Red Sea.

In 1608 he sailed for India as part of the East India Company's Fourth Voyage. Going round the Cape of Good Hope, they stopped at Aden, Mocha, and the island of Socotra before making for Surat in 1609. They shipwrecked in the Gulf of Cambay, rowing lifeboats to shore and continuing to Surat on foot. Most of the crew continued to Agra but Jourdain remained at Surat, promoting the company's trade and greatly pleasing his superiors. In February 1612 he sailed for the Red Sea for he benefit of the company. From Mocha he went to Sumatra, and on to Tecoa and Bantam, where in November 1617 he was appointed to remain as chief factor. The appointment gave Jourdain authority over all of the Company's factories in the East except that of Surat.

Hakluyt Society Second Series, XVI; 8vo (22.5 x 15 cm); 4 maps, ex libris Inner Temple Library with bookplates and stamps, withdrawn stamp to titles, half-title loose, small tears to contents page and p lxi, stabilised with repair; original publisher's gilt blue cloth, spine a little darkened, otherwise a very good copy; lxxxii, 394, 40pp.