Description de l'Arabie, faite sur les observations propres et des avis recueillis dans les lieux mêmes.

4to: xlii-372-[15] pp.; 27 pls (edges untrimmed, 1st ll. pleated and some slightly aged-toned).

Modern three-quarter parchment, flat spine with red leather label (sl. worn).

Second ed. of Mourier's translation (1st ed. in German: 1772, 1st French transl.: 1773), later judged as incorrect because of errors in the text (incl. Arabic translations) and plates. Ill. with 1 etched vignette on title and 27 pls, some fold. (complete): 2 large unnumbered maps (many copies with only 1 map) of Yemen, 1 folding letterpress leaf of the genealogy of Sanà sovereigns and 24 numb. pls (2 pls with calligraphed Arabic Koran enhanced with red and yellow to indicate vowel sounds, views of natives, costumes, shoes, coins and seals, military exercises, Mecca, etc.). As an astronomer and cartographer, Niebuhr (1733-1815) was sent in 1761 by the King of Denmark to "Arabia Felix" but came back 6 years later as the sole survivor of the mission. Despite the loss in Denmark of the majority of the collections he had sent back, he wrote an impartial account of his journey and self-published part of his works. Ref. Brunet IV:74 (23 pls). - Gay 3589. - Atabey 873 (26 pls). - Cox I:237. - Chadenat 1941. - Not in Blackmer.