Les aventures d'Abdalla, ou son voyage a l'isle de Borico. Traduction de l'Arabe

Edition with some parts in first edition, rare. The first volume, written by Bignon appeared from 1712 to 1714 under the name of the announced prefacer and translator: Sandisson; the second volume, consisting of a sequel and conclusion to the stories of Abdalla is by M. de Paulmy; certain biographers give Louis Daniel Colson as author (orientalist and one of the authors of the History of China). First illustrated and collected edition with 6 figures and 2 title vignettes; the vignettes are signed Eisen and engraved by Legrand, the figures are before letters and are undoubtedly by the same. The work is listed by Cohen (Livres à gravures du XVIIIe) under Sandisson.
Contemporary marbled full brown calf bindings. Decorated smooth spines. Red morocco title and volume labels. Restorations to headcaps and corners, gilt retouched. Worming on the upper board of volume II. Scattered foxing. Brown stain in upper margin on the first 50 leaves. Brown stain in margin on 3 leaves in volume II. Overall, good copy.
Witty and parodic oriental novel. It recounts the journey and adventures of a pious Muslim, Abdalla, sent by his master, the sultan of the Indies, in search of water that provides eternal youth. This narrative is also a documentary on the Orient in which the abbé implements the knowledge that Western travelers brought back from their various journeys to India and Indonesia, it is also the vision that the Western clergy had of Muslims and the Orient. It offers a collection of marvelous tales that borrow their elements from both East and West. Like the Thousand and One Nights, it is filled with multiple stories and tales mixing genies and magic. The novel, published after Galland's translation of the Thousand and One Nights would enjoy great success.