[India and Ceylon. Baldaeus] Naauwkeurige Beschryvinge van Malabar en Choromandel,

Der zelver aangrenzende Ryken, En het machtige Eyland Ceylon. Nevens een omstandige en grondigh doorzochte ontdekking en wederlegginge van de Afgoderye der Oost-Indische Heydenen. (...) Zynde hier by gevoeght een Malabaarsche Spraak-konst. Amsterdam, Johannes van Waasberge & Johannes van Someren, 1672, 3 parts in one vol., (10),198; (2),44,(8),45-200; 101-132; (2),188,(11) p., with engraved frontispiece, 30 double-page/ folding plates (incl. 4 maps) and 1 full-page plate, 2 portraits, 3 double-page plates conc. the Malabar script, many illustrations in the text, contemporary speckled calf, gilt and ribbed back with morocco letterpiece, folio.

Scratched-off library stamp to title page; plate of Coulang waterstained. Else internally in excellent condition with all plates present as called for. Leather on hinges torn and spine ends sl. worn. Landwehr VOC 556; Tiele 70. The most important 17th-century source regarding the Dutch presence in southern India, particularly Ceylon. The Reformed missionary Baldaeus stayed at Ceylon from 1656 to 1665 and also learned the local language, enabling him to translate Christian books into that language.