A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam.

£5,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A handsome copy of the first edition in English of La Loubère's account of Siam, 'universally regarded as the finest work on seventeenth-century Thailand' (Wyatt). La Loubère was Louis XIV's envoy to the court of Siam. Before setting out on his mission, he read widely on Siam and its history. This background knowledge, combined with objective observation, makes his book a 'magisterial description' (Lach). He returned to France in 1688 just a month after the Siamese revolution, which saw the overthrow of the pro-French King Narair and ushered in over a hundred years of anti-European policy. Notable for its publication of the "Siamese method" of constructing magic squares and for one of the earliest accounts of a parachute. First edition in English; 2 vols in 1, folio (32 x 20 cm); title-page printed in red and black, 11 engraved maps and illustrations, in-text woodcuts of 'magical squares' between pages 228 and 246, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, occasional mild toning; contemporary full blind panelled calf, spine in six compartments with gilt morocco lettering piece, extremities rubbed, a very good handsome copy; [4], 144, [4, including separate title-page], 145-260 pp. Mendelssohn (1979) III, 43; Lach III (3), 1194-1196; Wing L201.

• Binding: Hardcover

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