Voyages…en Europe, en Asie & en Afrique, depuis l'Espagne jusqu'à la Chine…traduits de l'Hébreu & enrichis de Notes & de Dissertations Historiques & Critiques.

BENJAMIN OF TUDELA

Dépens de la Compagnie

Amsterdam

1734

FIRST EDITION of this translation by J.P. Baratier. Engraved frontispiece portrait of the author. Uncut copy, in a fine contemporary tortoise-shell binding.

Excellent copy, in a fine contemporary tortoise-shell binding. Benjamin of Tudela, one of the very earliest medieval travelers, set forth in 1159 from Tudela in Spain to traverse across Europe, Asia Minor, Upper Egypt and other African Lands. He presents here, observations on the manners and commerce of the various nations he came into contact with, and reports on the political situation of his fellow-Jews, particularly in Constantinople. He names the principal Jews of the congregation of each city visited, and provides additional reports concerning commerce and trade. “There is no general account of the Mediterranean world or of the MIddle East in this period which approaches that of Benjamin of Tudela in importance, whether for Jewish or for general history” (EJ). The original Hebrew text was first printed in Constantinople in 1543. This French version was the work of Jean-Phillipe Baratier of Schwaback (1721-40), a learned prodigy who published it at the age of 13. See JE, Vol. II p. 523; EJ IV cols. 535-38; Potthast, p. 145; Sarton II, 414; Tobler, p. 17; Weber II, 72.