![MANDEVILLE, Jean de (14th century). Itinerarius. [Gouda: Gerard Leeu, between 1483 and 11 June 1484].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0085_001(mandeville_jean_de_itinerarius_gouda_gerard_leeu_between_1483_and_11_j025001).jpg?w=1)
![MANDEVILLE, Jean de (14th century). Itinerarius. [Gouda: Gerard Leeu, between 1483 and 11 June 1484].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0085_000(mandeville_jean_de_itinerarius_gouda_gerard_leeu_between_1483_and_11_j024952).jpg?w=1)
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MANDEVILLE, Jean de (14th century). Itinerarius. [Gouda: Gerard Leeu, between 1483 and 11 June 1484].
Second Latin edition. The colophon refers to the Venetian origin of the new font [82 G] which Leeu employs for this already long popular book. Although the author describes himself as an English knight born in St Albans, this was a conceit; Jean de Bourgoigne, a native of Liège, is much more likely to be the true author. A physician by profession, Bourgoigne died in Liège in 1372, the year usually given in the manuscripts as the date of Mandeville’s death. His only years in the East were spent in Egypt. He otherwise relied upon the descriptions of others for his account of an extraordinary journey to India, Asia and China, said to have begun in 1322; major sources are the Dominican and Franciscan missionaries who were the first genuine travellers into the interior of Asia. The brilliant synthesis that resulted from such a close knowledge of the available literature has guaranteed the lasting fame of this travel book in both manuscript and print. Early editions are elusive. There is only one institutional holding (PML) of the first Latin edition of 1483. Despite much larger holdings, this second edition very seldom appears at auction. HC 10644; BMC IX 37; BSB-Ink M-103; Bod-inc M-052; Goff M-160.
Chancery 4to (186 x 127mm). 2- to 5-line initials in red (a2 repaired at upper margin, without blank a1). 20th-century red morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, gilt edges; fitted clamshell box. Provenance: short 19th-century bibliographical note on final verso – [from the private collection of Philip and Lionel Robinson of William H. Robinson Ltd, London bookseller].
Second Latin edition. The colophon refers to the Venetian origin of the new font [82 G] which Leeu employs for this already long popular book. Although the author describes himself as an English knight born in St Albans, this was a conceit; Jean de Bourgoigne, a native of Liège, is much more likely to be the true author. A physician by profession, Bourgoigne died in Liège in 1372, the year usually given in the manuscripts as the date of Mandeville’s death. His only years in the East were spent in Egypt. He otherwise relied upon the descriptions of others for his account of an extraordinary journey to India, Asia and China, said to have begun in 1322; major sources are the Dominican and Franciscan missionaries who were the first genuine travellers into the interior of Asia. The brilliant synthesis that resulted from such a close knowledge of the available literature has guaranteed the lasting fame of this travel book in both manuscript and print. Early editions are elusive. There is only one institutional holding (PML) of the first Latin edition of 1483. Despite much larger holdings, this second edition very seldom appears at auction. HC 10644; BMC IX 37; BSB-Ink M-103; Bod-inc M-052; Goff M-160.
Chancery 4to (186 x 127mm). 2- to 5-line initials in red (a2 repaired at upper margin, without blank a1). 20th-century red morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, gilt edges; fitted clamshell box. Provenance: short 19th-century bibliographical note on final verso – [from the private collection of Philip and Lionel Robinson of William H. Robinson Ltd, London bookseller].
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