Travel
[SHERLEY, Sir Anthony]; William Parry.
A new and large discourse of the travels of Sir Anthony Sherley knight, by sea and over land to the Persian empire. Wherein are related many straunge and wonderfull accidents; and also, the description and conditions of those countries and people he passed by; with his returne into Christendome. Written by William Parry, gentleman, who accompanied Sir Anthony in his travells.
Valentine Sims for Felix Norton, London 1601. First edition. Small 4to. (16.6 x 11.4 cm. approx.), [2], 40, [2]pp., (lacks blanks A1 and F4), title cropped to just within typographic borders and a little soiled, trivial blemishes, an excellent copy.
An exceedingly scarce account of Sir Anthony Sherley's travels, ESTC records just 10 copies. In recent times only 2 copies have appeared at auction, The Penrose copy in 1971 (lb420), and the Burrell copy in 1999 (lb12,650). The second (the first consisting of fives leaves only) and most important of the four "Sherley" accounts. "This very graphic narrative is greatly to be preferred to Sir Anthony's own turgid self-justification." - Penrose. Sherley left England in 1598 with a group of mercenaries bound for Ferrara. However by the time they reached Venice, the dispute they had gone to join had been settled and so under the instructions of the Earl of Essex, Sherley, along with his brother Robert and others, proceeded to Persia with the intent of promoting trade with England. Their adventures in getting to Isfahan are remarkable and include being put ashore at Zante as troublemakers, and being arrested in Cyprus by the Turks as spies. The work also includes a description of the pigeon post used by Turkish merchants between Mecca and Aleppo. At Isfahan the party was well treated by Shah Abbas and Sherley gives details concerning Persia, including an account of the petroleum found at Baku: "Neere unto a towne called Backo in Persia, there issueth out of the earth in the manner of a water-spring, a certaine kind of oyle, in great abundance, which they (from all parts of the Persian dominions) do fetch upon Camels, Kine, and Asses, to burne in lamps, which are the lights used in their houses." The Shah in fact took such a liking to Sherley that he was sent as his ambassador to Moscow as part of the Shah's efforts to secure alliances against the Turks. The book contains an account of Sherley's journey to Moscow, and of the bad reception given to Sherley by the Russians. Diba p225; Schwab, 533; Wilson p166. Not in Blackmer or Ghani.
Price: £ 20000
US Dollar Price: $ 30140
Stock Number: 71564