12mo. [14], 403 pp., [13 Table de Matières], 1 steel folding map, 3 steel engraved plates, contemporary full-calf, title gilt on raised decorated spine, edges rubbed, scattered foxing, othewise copy in good condition, Charles Huguier, Paris, 1715.

Synopsis

Jean de La Roque (1661-1743) was born in Marseilles. He studied Oriental languages, and travelled several times to the Levant, and worked as a correspondent for his father’s newspaper, the Mercure, at Trevoux, north of Lyon. According to the editor’s preface, the book grew out of a small account of the voyage to Mocha contributed to the paper.
The first 188 pages of the work comprise of five letters written by the French sea captain called de la Merville, who did not go on the second journey. De La Roque put together the account of that trip from various sources, including that of Mr de La Grelaudière, who journeyed with two surgeons from Mocha to Muab to cure the King of Yemen. The book ends with a historical treatise on coffee which is apparently from the surgeons’ communications. First Paris edition was published in 1716, no priority established, English translations were published in 1726 and 1732.
Bibliographic references: Cox 1, 222; Aboussouan 512; Müller, Kaffee S.180; Gay 3680; Bitting 274.