Being a Full and Accurate Description of the Kingdom of Abessinia, Vulgarly, though Erroneously called The Empire of Prester John. In Four Books…
First edition in English. Engraved alphabet, table & 8 engraved folding plates. Folio. Contemporary calf, worn, chafed and spotted. Some light damp staining to early pages. [viii], 398pp. London, Samuel Smith, 1682.
Ludolphus was a German scholar who did much to try and improve relations between Abyssinia and Europe. A valuable overview of the literature and natural history of the country, the work provided Samuel Johnson with much of the Abyssinian background he used in writing Rasselas.
This first edition does not call for or contain the map published in the 2nd edition of 1684. Wing, L3468.
