Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse,

Yemen and coffee

The first part of the work describes Aden and Moka, which were in fact under the government of the King of Yemen, although the author does not make this clear. Moka at this time was a considerable trading centre. The second part describes a journey made by the officers of two French ships stationed at Moka to the King of Yemen on his invitation. Remarks on the landscape and crops also on the court of the King of Yemen, his dress and harem. The travellers commented on the fact that there were no mosques in the city.

The final third of the work contains a lengthy treatise on the coffee trade with three attractive plates illustrating it. Jean de la Roque (1661-1745) was the son of Philippe de la Roque, a merchant in Marseilles who was responsible for introducing coffee to Marseilles, and so his knowledge and appreciation for the coffee growing in Arabia was well founded.

First edition, second issue with cancel title; 12mo (17 x 10.5 cm); folding engraved map of southern Arabia and Yemen, 3 folding engraved plates of coffee plant, privilege leaf at end, stub of cancel before title, armorial bookplate to pastedown; contemporary speckled calf, rebacked, spine in six compartments with with contrasting gilt morocco lettering pieces, a touch of rubbing, a very good copy; [xvi], 403, [13]pp.

Atabey 673; Boucher de la Richarderie IV, pg. 432; Chadenat II, 5404; Cox I, 222.