Small 8vo. 163 leaves, [2], anchor device of Aldine Press on title page and last blank page, Latin text, contemporary calf binding (to match original style), gilt decoration on raised spine, blind-tooled inside border, all edges gilt, very light damp stain to upper margins, otherwise copy in very good condition, Aldus, Venice, second edition, 1545.

Synopsis

Second edition, first published in 1543. Tana was the name of which Genoese gave to their factory at Azov at the mouth of river Don.
This work contains a collection of voyages edited by Antonio Manuzio, son of Aldus, who had established a book shop and small printing house at Bologna. The first two narratives are by Joseph Barbaro (Tana in 1436, Persia 1471) and Ambrogio Contarini (Persia 1473-77), who had been sent as special envoys by the Venetian to the Persians. Barbaro was the first contact between the Venetians and the Persians. Another narrative by Luigi Roncinotto (Ethiopia 1532, Persia and India in 1529). An edition of Benedetto Ramberti is included, and also two voyages to India, one of which describes the expedition of Soleyman Bassa against the Portuguese settlement in 1538. This appears to be one of the very few works of travels to be published by the Aldine Press.
Bibliographic references: Blackmer 1071; Gollner 861; Renouard pp 128 & 134; Aldinenslg. SB Bln. 562; Göllner 861; Atabey 761.