Beschreibung:

SULAYMAN al-Tajir, (9th century) and ABU ZAYD HASAN ibn Yazid Sirafi (10th century). Ancient accounts of India and China, by two Mohammedan travellers, who went to those parts in the 9th century. Translated by Eusèbe Renadot. London: Samuel Harding, 1733.
SULAYMAN al-Tajir, (9th century) and ABU ZAYD HASAN ibn Yazid Sirafi (10th century). Ancient accounts of India and China, by two Mohammedan travellers, who went to those parts in the 9th century. Translated by Eusèbe Renadot. London: Samuel Harding, 1733. Two parts in one, 8° (198 x 117 mm). (Some pale spotting and browning.) Contemporary speckled calf, gilt double-fillet borders on covers, raised bands, modern lettering piece on spine, speckled edges (rebacked with original spine laid down). Provenance : armorial bookplate with initials “R.S.” FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. An English translation of Silsilat al-tawarikh : the first part written by Sulayman or from his accounts; the second part a supplement by Abu Zayd Hasan. Translated from the French version by Renaudot (see previous). According to Renaudot, based on events such as the great revolution which swept across China during their second voyage, there is no reason to doubt that the journeys were undertaken four centuries prior to Marco Polo’s. Their travels took place in 851 A.D. and 877 A.D., respectively. Later Arabic geographers such as Ibn Khordadhbe and al-Mas’udi relied heavily on this work for their information on India and China. “Ces relations sont de la plus haute importance pour la connaissance de l'Inde et de la Chine au moyen-age” (NBG). Cox I, p. 335; Lust 297 (“In Pinkerton, A general collection of travels, vol. 7”); NBG, vol. 41, col. 997-998 (Renaudot, Eusèbe).