[India and Ceylon] Baldaeus, P. 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. Amst., J. Janssonius van Waasberge and J. van Someren, 1672, 3 parts in 1 vol., (10),198; (2),44,(8),45-132 [=232]; (2),188,(11)p., w. the following engravings: frontisp., armorial dedic. ill., 33 double-p. (1x also fold.) and 1 full-p. maps, plates, plans and views (all according to the binder's index, some bound in the wrong place), 2 portraits, 3 double-p. fold. linguistic plates to the Malabar grammar, 55 ills. in the text (mostly half-p., partly 3/4-p and 1x full-p.), contemp. blindst. panelled vellum, folio. Folded plan of Negapatam w. large closed tear, map of Ceylon w. sl. frayed protruding fore-edges, partly faint waterst. in lower outer corner. Endpapers renewed, vellum sl. soiled, minor other internal and external imperfections. In all, a very good copy, w. ownership entry of a member of a member of Van Welvelde family (dated 1672) on title-p.

Landwehr, VOC 556; Tiele 70; Cox I, 283; Rouffaer and Muller p. 341; Cat. NHSM p. 240. First edition of one of the main early sources on Dutch settlements in Ceylon and Southern India. "Baldeaus arrived in Ceylon in 1656 (...) and remained on the island until 1665. He immediately assigned himself (...) to Jaffna, the Tamil region in the north of the Island (...) [and] set about taking over the churches and schools left by the various Catholic missions and converting their flocks to the 'true Reformed faith'. Baldaeus and his pastors concentrated on the younger members of the community (...). Baldaeus soon acquired a knowledge of Tamil and translated the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Articles of Faith. (...) after the departure of Baldaeus the Reformed Church there fell into decline. (...). He also provides a detailed description of the Hindu religion, although borrowing much from the earlier work of the missionary Abraham Roger." (Howgego B10).