The Travels of Marco Polo: A Venetian, in the Thirteenth Century…
The Travels of Marco Polo: A Venetian, in the Thirteenth Century: being a Description, by that early Traveller of Remarkable Places and Things in the Eastern Part of the World. Translated from the Italian, with Notes, by William Marsden.
London: printed for the author by Cox and Bayliss, 1818.
Quarto, lxxx, 781, [3] pages. Folding map of Asia after p. lxxx. Later half calf, backstrip richly gilt.
The first separately published English translation of Marco Polo since 1579
An important English edition of the work of Marco Polo, the first book to open Central Asia and China to the West. This translation by Marsden was preceded as a separate edition only by the Frampton version of 1579, that early edition so rare that STC records only three copies held in the USA and three in England.
An important English edition of the work of Marco Polo, the first book to open Central Asia and China to the West. This translation by Marsden was preceded as a separate edition only by the Frampton version of 1579, that early edition so rare that STC records only three copies held in the USA and three in England.
Marco Polo (1254-1324), most celebrated of all early travellers, was the inspiration for all future explorers towards the east. His reports of his travels, factual and embroidered provided Europeans with not only their first account of China, but with a new standard in travelogue. His account was a unique compilation of hard fact, hearsay and legend covering history, politics and accounts of territories hitherto uncharted by the west. This superb translation of Marco Polo's travels by the respected scholar William Marsden brings to life one of the best known of all travel accounts and is particularly valuable for its copious notes, expert commentary and comprehensive index.
Marco Polo had originally dictated the story of his travels to an acquaintance, Rusticiano, whilst he was being held prisoner in Genoa in 1299, following a naval defeat. His work was largely unknown in his lifetime, and first appeared in print in 1477 in Nuremberg, almost two hundred years after it was written.
The translator, William Marsden, known too for his "History of Sumatra" joined the East India Company at Bencoolen as a writer in 1771, at the age of 17. He later became First Secretary to the Admiralty and Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society. He was a great collector of coins and books; his coins are now in the British Museum, his library at King's College. He based his translation on the Italian edition of Zurla's version of Marco Polo's travels. Zurla, Cardinal Vicar of Rome was an influential writer on medieval geography.
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Provenance: The Holland House copy, with bookplate; inscription of Charles P. Motsch while in Kabul 1952.
Sarton II, 1057-61.
Condition Report: Title-page foxed, internally very good.
Price (AUD): $5,400.00
US$3,439.60 Other currencies