William Robertson.
An Historical Disquisition concerning the knowledge which the Ancients had of India ; and the Progress of Trade with that Country prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an Appendix, Observations on the Civil Policy - the Laws and Judicial Proceedings - the Arts - the Sciences - and Religious Institutions, on the Indians. By William Robertson, Principal of the University and Histographapher to his Majesty for Scotland. The Second Edition, with the author's last corrections and additions.
London, Printed for A. Straham and T. Cadell, and E. Balfour at Edinburgh, and sold by T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies successors to Mr. Cadell, 1794
1 volume in-8 (22,5 x 14 cm) de VI-(1)-441-(21) pages. 2 grandes cartes géographiques dépliantes.
Reliure de l'époque (vers 1800) veau raciné, dos lisses richement ornés, pièces de titre de maroquin rouge, pastille de maroquin noir mosaïquée avec fleurette dorée, tranches citron, roulette dorée sur les coupes. Reliure de très belle facture, probablement anglaise. Infimes frottements, sinon très fraîches reliures, intérieur également très frais imprimé sur beau papier, sans rousseurs notables. A noter une petite brûlure du cuir sur un mors (coulure acide) sans gravité. Texte en anglais.
The Second edition
La première édition de ce texte date de 1791 (même éditeur). 'In his sixty-eighth year the perusal of Major James Rennell's 'Memoir on the Map of Hindustan' (1793) set Robertson again to work, and within a year, encouraged by Gibbon, he brought out his 'Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Antients had of India .' The book concluded with a wise hope that the account 'of the early and high civilisation of India, and of the wonderful progress of its inhabitants in elegant arts and useful science, may have some influence upon the behaviour of Europeans towards that people.' L'ouvrage est divisé en 4 sections plus un important appendice et des notes : Intercourse with India, from the earliest Times, until the Conquest of Egypt by the Romans. Intercourse with India, from the establishment of the Roman Dominion in Egypt, to the Conquest of that Kingdom by the Mahomedans. Intercourse with India, from the Conquest of Egypt by the Mahomedans, to the Discovery of the Passage by the Cape of Good Hope, and the Establishment of the Portugese Dominion in the East. General observations.
Ces recherches historiques sur l'Inde ancienne sont estimées. Il s'agit du dernier ouvrage de l'auteur. On y trouve notamment un intéressant chapitre sur le commerce de la soie. La première traduction française date de 1792.
Provenance : Ex libris gravé monogramme non identifié.
Très bel exemplaire conservé dans sa première et très fine reliure en veau raciné.
Prix : 490 euros
