Edward Brown, 1673 and 1677

BROWN[E], Edward (1644-1708). A Brief Account of some Travels in Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli. London: T.R. for Benjamin Tooke, 1673 [Bound with: –. An Account of Several Travels through a Great Part of Germany: in Four Journeys. London: for B. Tooke, 1677.

Fresh first editions of two intriguing illustrated travelogues with metallurgical interest by the son of Sir Thomas Browne. "A very interesting work, with acute observations and judgements; of particular importance is the information Browne provides on early mines and mining techniques" (Blackmer). Browne grew up whetting his intellect on his famous father's library, and as an adult embarked on several grand tours through Europe. His reports reveal an acute attention to the curious objects he encountered on his travels, as well as a healthy interest in books and librarians—in Vienna, he befriended Ludwig's famous librarian Peter Lambeck. In both accounts he devotes special attention to the mining operations he encounters, as well as to the "curious artificers" he meets in Germany, who work surprisingly cheaply and whose work is inspected for fraud by government officials. Many of the intriguing plates are signed by William Sherwin in the first work and John Oliver in the second. I: Wing B-5110; Blackmer 217; Hoover 172; II: Wing B-5109; see Duveen Alchemy, p. 103 (second edition of both works).

Two works bound in one, quarto (198 x 156mm). I: 2 pp. bookseller's ads and errata leaf at end. 9 engraved plates, 4 of which folding, woodcut illustration in text. II: 1 p. bookseller's ads at end. 6 engraved plates, 5 of which folding. Contemporary blind-ruled calf (rebacked preserving original spine panel and endpapers).