Journal du Voyage de Siam .... fait en 1685 & 1686, by Abbe M. Choisy

Important travel account of the embassy of the priest Francois-Timoleon de Choisy (1644–1724), sent to Siam by Louis XIV.  Choisy, together with Chevalier de Chaumont was sent with the purpose to convert the Siamese king to Chritianity. The embassy failed, he was sent home with nothing more than friendly words and lots of gifts. The account of Choisy of this mission to Siam, however, is very enthusiastic, and even sometimes slightly exagerated. The text is in the form of a diary, and is written in an attractive stile, telling about several details of the voyage and the experiences in Siam. In his report of July 17, 1685, Choisy recounts of a moment when it was almostdecided to sail eastwards to the western coast of Australia, the Terre d' Endrach, and then up the coast to Java. However, the coast was considered too dangerous, even the Dutch never went by that way. The present account was reprinted many times, even in 1930 it was still republished together with an explanatory essay to explain the purpose and importance of this particalar embassy. Good copy. Black owner name on fourth page (old).
Cordier I (Sinica) 941; Streit V 1946; Cionarescu 19372