Jüdisches Ceremoniel [Jewish Ceremonies], by Paul Christian Kirchner. Nuremberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1724. German. First edition with engravings. A detailed description of Jewish customs and ceremonies in 18th century Germany, by Paul Christian Kirchner, accompanied by thirty engraved plates (all but title page folding). The engravings depict various Jewish ceremonies, including laying of phylacteries, chalitzah, Sabbath and holidays in the synagogue, and more. The book was first published in 1716 (without engravings). The author, who was born to a Jewish family, converted to Christianity several years before writing it. In his preface, he states his intentions to convince other Jews to follow his example. In 1724, the work was re-edited by Sebastian Jacob Jugendres, who toned down Kirchner's coarse language, as well as his scornful attitude to all things Jewish. [5] ff., 226 pp., [9] ff. + [30] engraved plates and [2] folding explanatory plates (Erklärung der Kupfer) at end. Approx. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains (including dark stains) and blemishes. Tears to several pages and plates. Minor worming to some pages. Parchment covered binding, partially detached, with minor blemishes.

L'ambassade de la Compagnie orientale des Provinces Unies vers l'empereur de la Chine [An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperor of China], by Johannes Nieuhof. Leiden: Jacob de Meurs, 1665. French. Two parts in one volume. French translation of Johannes Nieuhof's comprehensive work (translated by Jean Le Carpentier) describing the journey of a delegation of the Dutch East India Company to the Emperor of China. The first part deals with the delegation's journey across China and includes information about the Imperial court in Peking (today, Beijing), information about the Chinese Imperial dynasties and more. The second part contains a general description of the Chinese Empire – its history, various customs and rituals followed throughout the Empire, the government, religion, temples, rivers and mountains, fauna and flora. Illustrated with 37 engraved plates: engraved title page, portrait of the French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a map of China (folding) and 34 double-spread plates featuring mostly Chinese towns. Over 100 additional in-text engravings (illustrations of Chinese towns and villages, botanical and zoological illustrations, illustrations depicting professionals of various social classes, and more). Johannes Nieuhof (1618-1672), a Dutch traveler; published works about his travels in Brazil, China and India. Between 1655 to 1658 he was part of a delegation of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to the court of the Chinese Shunzhi Emperor in Peking, whose objective was to ensure the company's trade rights with the Chinese Empire in the Chinese southern coast. As a member of the delegation, Nieuhof documented the journey in great detail – in writing and by drawing. [7] ff., 116 pp. [2] ff. (paginated 116-177), 117-290 pp; [1] f., 134 pp. [1] f. + [37] plates, 37 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears to edges of several leaves, some open (not affecting text); one tear repaired with tape. Worming to spine and some leaves (slightly affecting text and engravings). Leather-covered card binding, worn. Tears to edges of binding and spine (some loss).

Description de l'Arabie [Description of Arabia] by Carsten Niebuhr. Amsterdam: S.J. Baalde / Utrecht: J. van Schoonhoven & Comp., 1774. French. French translation of the book Description of Arabia by the German traveler and cartographer Carsten Niebuhr. The book describes in detail Niebuhr's travels in Arabia, including in Yemen, with a Danish research expedition in the years 1761-1767, introducing the conclusions of studies on the local religion and folklore, agriculture, astronomy and more. Illustrated with 26 plates: a genealogical table of the Royal House of Sanaa (folding) and 25 engravings (some folding, three of them partly hand-colored) – maps, including a large, folding map of Yemen, and illustrations of various sites and the local lifestyles and customs (tools and costumes, military training, ancient inscriptions and coins, Masjid al-Haram of Mecca and The Prophet's Mosque of Medina, and more). Carsten Niebuhr (1733-1815) a German mathematician, cartographer and traveler. Member of the Danish research expedition to Arabia (in Danish: Den Arabiske Rejse), which was under the patronage of Frederick V of Denmark. He went on research expeditions to the Middle East and Asia and toured Palestine. His studies and maps had great influence, since they were considered precise and reliable, serving as an important source of information on the geography of the Near East. Niebuhr's map of Yemen (the last plate in this book) was particularly significant, being the first map of Yemen ever drawn using modern scientific tools. During their journey in Yemen, Niebuhr and the other members of the expedition visited various Jewish communities – in Jiblah, Mocha, Taiz, Dhamar, Sanaa and elsewhere. This book describes the lifestyle and customs of Yemenite Jews, constituting an interesting source of information for the history of Yemenite Jewry in the second half of the 18th century. See: "The First Scientific Expedition to Southern-Arabia as a Source for the History of the Jews of Yemen" (Hebrew), by Aviva Klein-Franke; in Pe'amim, Studies in Oriental Jewry, no. 18, 1984. XLII, 372 pp. [7] ff. + XXIV plates (engravings and maps) + [2] folding plates (genealogical table facing p. 170 and a map of Yemen facing p. 372). Last page (list of plates) missing. 27 cm. Good condition. Stains. Stamps to one page. Signatures to title page and front endpapers. Tear to edge of folding map of Yemen (not affecting print). Bookplates to inside front board and one endpaper. New binding.

Il Devotissimo viaggio di Gierusalemme [Devout Voyage to Jerusalem], by Giovanni Zvallardo [Jean Zuallart]. Rome: Domenico Basa, 1595. Italian and some Latin. Second edition. Account of Jean Zuallart's pilgrimage to Palestine in 1586, describing in detail Jerusalem and the holy places. 45 fine engravings, including maps, views and sites in Jerusalem and other towns, depicting the walls of Jerusalem, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mount of Olives, Rachel's Tomb, Jaffa and more. Two folding engraved plates: plan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and plan of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. 351 pp., [7] ff., 17 cm. Good condition. Gilt edges. Stains to several pages and folding plates. Minor tears to several pages and folding plates (plates reinforced with paper to verso, partially detached; restored tears to title page and last page). Bottom edge of p. 99 trimmed (not affecting text). Professionally cleaned and restored. New binding.

Itinerarium Hierosolymitanum et Syriacum, Johannes Cotovicus. Antwerp: Hieronymous Verdussiun Press, 1619. Latin. Two parts in one volume. First edition. Account of a journey by Johannes Cotovicus (graduated as Doctor of Laws at the Utrecht University) to Jerusalem and Syria (through Crete and Cyprus). Cotovicus, who visited Palestine in 1598, was the first to copy tombstone inscriptions and wall inscriptions from Jerusalem (some were later destroyed). The book contains three engraved plates and more than 50 in-text engravings, including maps, plans and illustrations depicting Jerusalem (view of the city, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mount of Olives, and more), Jaffa, Rhodes, Cyprus, and other sites. [16] ff, 518 pp, [9] ff + [3] small engraved plates and [5] folding plates, 24 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and blemishes (mainly to margins and first and last leaves). Some leaves with tears to edges (several open tears; one leaf with a long tear). Leather-covered boards, with abrasions and wear. Tears and losses to spine.