[Rarebooks] FS: Very scarce 1688 1st ed. of a Jesuit scholar's scientific observations in Siam.

[Kenneth Karmiole]

(SCIENCE) Gouye, Thomas. OBSERVATIONS PHYSIQUES ET MATHEMATIQUES: POUR SERVIR A L'HISTOIRE NATURELLE & A LA PERFECTION DE L'ASTRONOMIE & DE LA GEOGRAPHIE: Envoyees de Siam a l'Academie Royale des Sciences a Paris, par les Peres Jesuites Francois Qui Vont a la Chine en Qualite de Mathematiciens du Roy... Paris: La Veuve d'Edme Martin, Jean Boudot & Estienne Martin. 1688. 8vo. (8),278,(6)pp. With the leaf of approbation and the 2 leaves of index at back. With 3 copper engraved folding plates, illustrating the author's dissection of a crocodile. Original speckled calf, gilt spine in six compartments. Spine extremities worn and front hinge starting, but quite sound. Front free endpaper lacking. Small paper repair on a blank portion of the title, likely removing the name of a previous owner, and a small repair at the bottom blank margin of pp. 33/34. Some occasional text foxing.    $6,500.00 (trade discount allowed)
This is the scarce first edition of Jesuit scholar Gouye's (1650-1725) first book, a report of his scientific observations made on his voyage and stay in Siam before traveling on to China. He makes observations on natural history, the animals of Siam, on eclipses, mathematical calculations of latitude & longitude, and geography.
Currently there is no other copy for sale on-line. The last auction record was 2004 (2,160 GBP). There is one copy (2 listings but the same copy) of Gouye's second report of his observations published in 1692, a briefer work of 113pp., for $15,000. DeBaker & Sommervogel III, columns 1640-1641. Cordier. INDOSINICA 949.

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