[Fictional description of Taiwan] Description Dressée sur les Mémoires

du Sieur George Psalmanaazaar. Contenant une ample Relation de l'Isle Formosa en Asie, du Gouvernement, des Loix, des Moeurs, de la Religion de ses Habitans & de ses Voyages dans plusieurs Endroits de l'Europe. Enrichie de Cartes & de Figures. Parijs, Aux depens de la Compagnie, 1739, XLIV,406,(4) p., with large folding, engraved map of Japan and 17 (folding) engraved plates, contemporary calf, gilt back with raised bands with morocco letterpiece, large 12mo.

Several annotations in pen at beginning and end. Binding worn/ slightly damaged to spine ends and outer corners. With contemporary ex libris of the "Conventus Viennensis in Rossaugia Ord: Servorum B.M.V." and with 20th-century ex libris of "J.D." with motto "Tenere Cursum". Lovely, entirely fictional account - a number of "facts" scraped together from other travel books - of which the first edition appeared in London, 1704. Our French edition is extremely rare. One of the plates depicts the fictional alphabet of Formosa, made up by the author. See extensively on Psalmanaazaar (or Psalmanazar) (c. 1679-1763), already famous in his time: https://tinyurl.com/k6zwshm.