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90 [Aulnoy, Marie-Catherine, Madame d’]. Memoirs of the Court of France. In two parts. The first dedicated in the original to Madam de la Ferte; the second, to Madam the Dutchess de Bouillon, by Madame L.M.D., Author of the Voyage into Spain, printed for R. Bentley and T. Benett, 1692, [8], 3-160 pp., separate title-page to Part 2, lacks A1 [?separate title to Part 1], contemporary ink manuscript numerals ‘382’ and ‘291’ (struck through) to main title, inner hinges cracked, contemporary speckled calf, rubbed, cracked on joints, some edge and corner wear, 8vo Wing A4218A. A translation of Mémoires des avantures singulières de la cour de France. Countess d’Aulnoy is best remembered for her fairy tales, but she also wrote several popular novels of scandal and pseudo-memoirs of court intrigue. (1) £150 - £200
91 Fletcher (Thomas). Poems on Several Occasions, and Translations: wherein the First and Second Books of Virgil’s Aeneis are attempted, in English, 1st edition, printed for Charles Harper, 1692, initial imprimatur leaf, final advertisement leaf, contemporary mottled calf, gilt spine, gilt frame to covers, most of gilt rubbed away on spine, short crack to head of front joint, light wear to extremities, 8vo ESTC 15620; Grolier, Wither to Prior 379; Wing F1362. Fletcher’s translation of Virgil has been noted for its Williamite overtones, with his rendering of Jove’s prophecy of the triumph of Aeneas interpreted as a celebration of William’s victory in the Battle of the Boyne. (1) £500 - £800
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92 [Avril, Philippe]. Travels Into divers Parts of Europe and Asia, Undertaken by the French King’s Order to discover a new Way by Land into China. Containing many curious Remarks in Natural Philosophy, Geography, Hydrography, and History. Together with a Description of Great Tartary, and of the different People who inhabit there, 1st edition in English, printed for Tim. Goodwin, 1693, lacking A2 (Translator’s Preface), title-page printed in red and black (with oval ink stamp ‘Eastern District’ to lower margin), publisher’s advertisement leaf at rear, some spotting and toning (a few leaves browned/soiled), E8 with paper flaw resulting in slight loss to lower blank margin, manuscript signature on front pastedown, contemporary sheep, rubbed, with loss to spine ends, large 12mo Cordier Sinica 2088-9; ESTC R16481; Wing A4275. A translation of Voyage en divers états d’Europe et d’Asie, first published in Paris in 1692. Jesuit traveller Philippe Avril (1654-1698) set out in 1685 in an attempt to find an overland route to the far east. He went via Cyprus, Syria, Asia Minor and Persia but was turned back on reaching Astrakhan on the Northern shores of the Caspian sea. He subsequently returned to Constantinople then to France via Poland and Moldavia, arriving home in 1690. (1) £150 - £200
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