Pietro Della Valle. 1661-1663. 4 Volumes of Pietro Della Valle in Turkey, Persia & India.

“Viaggi di Pietro della Valle il Pellegrino. Con minuto ragguaglio di tutte le cose notabili osservate in essi, descritti da lui medesimo in 54. lettere familiari… divisi in due parti, cioè la Turchia, e la Persia”, Venezia, Paolo Baglioni, 1661. Pp. [38], 670

“Viaggi di Pietro della Valle il Pellegrino descritti da lui medesimo in lettere familiari all’erudito suo amico Mario Schipano, La Persia, parte prima”, pp.734, [34]

“Viaggi di Pietro della Valle il Pellegrino descritti da lui medesimo in lettere familiari all’erudito suo amico Mario Schipano, La Persia, parte seconda”, pp.792, [35]

“Viaggi di Pietro della Valle il Pellegrino descritti da lui medesimo in lettere familiari all’erudito suo amico Mario Schipano, parte terza cioe L’India, co’ l ritorno alla patria”, pp.756, [24]

The Italian writer, poet, musician & explorer Pietro della Valle (1586–1652) left Venice in 1614 on a pilgrimage to Palestine, proceeding to Baghdad and then into Persia. Unlike his predecessors, Della Valle was neither a missionary nor a tradesman. He was a pilgrim and his journey was “decidedly a pilgrimage of curiosity.” Della Valle recorded his experiences in 54 letters addressed to the Neapolitan natural scientist Mario Schipano. His account is considered very important as he records ancient monuments and artefacts based on archaeological and antiquarian methods established in Italy in the first half of the sixteenth century. It is also considered as one of the earliest printed sources for the early history of Dibba (eastern Arabian Peninsula).

The current very rare 4 volumes set includes: a Volume about the voyage in Ottoman empire (first printed in 1650), two volumes on Persia (first printed in 1658) and a volume of the travels in India published in 1663, the same year as the recorded Rome first edition. It is not mentioned by Blackmer, Atabey or Graesse.

Contemporary full calf. Spines with raised bands ornamented in gilt and titles on red Morocco, all edges marbled. Interior mostly clean and fine, one free end-paper detached. Extensive rubbing, wear along edges, corners joints and spines extremities with small parts chipped. Front covers cracked but still firm. Ex-libris armorial labels of “Bruce of Kinnaird, No. 413” on front pastedowns and “Βιβλιοθήκη Σπ. Λοβέρδου” in gilt on free endpapers.

Gennadius Library GT.509.2 (the current 4 volumes set), Atabey 1271 (1667 Baglioni ed., 3 vols. only). Blackmer 1712, Graesse VI 251 (Not this edition), ref. MARGARET DALY DAVIS, “PIETRO DELLA VALLE’S RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION IN THE LEVANT”, 2012.