Description

Voyage du Sieur Paul Lucas, fait par ordre du roy dans la Grèce, l'Asie Mineure, la Macédoine et l'Afrique. ( Voyage of the Sieur Paul Lucas, made by order of the king in Greece, Asia Minor, Macedonia and Africa). By Paul Lucas Published: Nicholas Simart, Paris, France, 1712. Paris, Nicolas Simart, 1712, 2 vol. in-12, [30],-410 p., 8 plates including folds, and [10]-417-[3]p., 8 plates, some of which are fold-outs, with the map of the Pays de Fioum. Hardcover in full leather of the period, spine with raised bands. First edition of the second voyage of P. Lucas (1664-1737). T. 1 containing the description of Natolia, Caramania, and Macedonia; vol. 2 containing the description of Jerusalem, Egypt, and Fioume, with a memoir to serve for the history of Tunis, since the year 1684, without the depl. of the Levant . Atabey 732. In 1712, he published his new voyage from October 1704 to September 1708 with Nicolas Simart, successor of the late Guillaume Vandive. His books have been translated into English and German. Paul Lucas also made a fourth and fifth trip to the Levant from May 1714 to November 1717, which gave him the opportunity to publish a Third Voyage of Sieur Paul Lucas, made in 1714, by order of Louis XIV in Turkey, Asia, Syria, Palestine, Upper and Lower Egypt, etc. The reception of his works was rather favourable. They were a major bestseller but were received with reservations by scientists because they did not fit into the classic codes of explorers' stories. "His reports, in spite of some errors, contain the most complete and accurate information that had hitherto been produced concerning these countries." Today, the importance of his stories is demonstrated. He actually visited and described many archaeological sites and made accurate maps for his time. He was thus the first explorer of Lower Egypt and above all the discoverer of the Temple of Isis (Behbeit el-Hagar). I've done my best to describe the book, but if you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail.