[Sri Lanka] Relation ou Voyage de l'Isle de Ceylan, dans les Indes Orientales

(..._). Par Robert Knox. Traduit de l'Anglois. Enrichi de Figures, avec la Carte de l'Isle. Amsterdam, Paul Marret, 1693, 2 volumes in 1 binding, (22),218; (6),180,(28) p., with engraved frontispiece, large folding engraved map of the island and 16 (of 17) mostly folding engraved plates, contemporary with gilt, ribbed back, 12mo.

Lacks one plate (facing p. 72); the map often lacking is present, but with large tear (reparable); multiple folding maps have small tears; owner's marks on frontispiece, title and endpapers; small tear in top of spine. The first French edition of this work which originally appeared in 1681 in English (An Historical Relation of the island Ceylon). Robert Knox (1641-1720) was the English captain of a merchant ship in the service of the British East India Company. He was held captive between 1659 and 1679 by the Kandy king Rajasingha II in the Sri Lanka interior, a captivity covered by a part of this work. The book is still considered the most important source on the native culture of Sri Lanka in the seventeenth century: See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Knox_(sailor).