The Travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies – the First Volume – Containing the Author's Voyage from Paris to Ispahan, by John Chardin. London: Moses Pitt, 1686. English. First Edition. First edition of Sir John Chardin's important travelogue (only one volume was published in 1686; the second and third volumes were published in 1711). The book provides a rich and detailed account of the places and people he encountered on his journey to Persia. Illustrated with a large engraved map of the Black Sea and surrounding countries and 16 engraved-plates (some folding) – views of Tbilisi, Yerevan, Tabriz, Qom and Kashan, monuments, various ritual objects, tombs of kings, and more. Engraved title page at the beginning. Missing engraved portrait of author. Sir John (Jean) Chardin (1643-1713), Huguenot traveler and Jeweler, born in Paris. Made several adventurous journeys to the East, studying the local cultures. Lived in Persia for several years and later settled in England, escaping the persecution of Huguenots in France. Was appointed court jeweler to King Charles II. Encyclopædia Iranica notes that Chardin "wrote the most detailed foreign account of Persia of his time". [7] ff, . 264, 331-417 pp., [4] ff., 154 pp., [3] ff. + [18] engraved plates, 30.5 cm. Missing one plate. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor tears to edges of some leaves. Closed and open tears to some folded plates (with minor damage to engravings), some repaired with paper. Marginal notations in ink on some pages. Card boards with leather spine. Minor tears to spine; minor blemishes to boards. Binding loose.