1684 A New History of Ethiopia

Description

Early Edition, Folding Plates, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Scarce

The second English language edition of this work, appearing two years after the first, and translated from the German by J. P. Gent. 

The work of German orientalist scholar Hiob Ludolf, labelled 'the most illustrious name in Ethiopic scholarship' by Edward Ullendorff.

First published in Frankfurt in 1681, Ludolf's work provides a comprehensive study of the history, language, and culture of Ethiopia, which was then known as Abyssinia. His book was one of the first detailed studies of Ethiopia to be published in Europe and helped to introduce Ethiopian studies to a wider audience.

With the collation [5], B-H2, A-L4, 2A-3D4, 3E2, 3F-3H4. Despite the inconsistent pagination, the text is continuous.

Collated, illustrated with one plate of the Ethiopian alphabet (in place of the map seen in some copies; copies have one or the other), one double page genealogical table, and eight folding engraved plates, including the plate of the beheading of the Capuchin priests. 

ESTC reference R7119

The book was highly influential in shaping European views of Ethiopia and was widely read by scholars and travellers in the centuries following its publication.