[DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF POLAND] DAVITY - LES ESTATS, EMPIRES ET PRINCIPAUTEZ DU MONDE, published in 1619

[DAVITY, Pierre]

THE STATES, EMPIRES, AND PRINCIPALITIES OF THE WORLD 

presented through descriptions of the countries, the customs of their inhabitants, the riches of the provinces, their military strength, their government, their religion, and the princes who have ruled each state… By Mr. D.T.V.Y., ordinary gentleman of the King’s Chamber.

Second edition

Paris, Pierre Aubert, 1619, [20] pages, 1,467 pages of text [1]; frontispiece, decorative woodcut vignettes and initials throughout the text; format 19x25 cm,

It contains several dozen pages devoted to the Kingdom of Poland —its geography, political system, territorial division, inhabitants, rulers, natural resources, army, customs, religion, and rituals.
In addition, there are extensive chapters devoted to the other countries of Europe, as well as a description of the “New World” —North and South America and the Caribbean islands.
A significant portion of the work consists of a description of Asia (including China and Japan), Africa, the Middle East, and the Papal States, containing, among other things, a list of popes and a complete chronology of the Catholic Church.

An early, comprehensive cosmographic treatise presenting the contemporary view of the world in the first half of the 17th century.

The pages are slightly yellowed; the book is in fairly good condition overall.
The first approx. 30 pages show traces of staining in the center; further on, there are minor spots or slight soiling of the margins in places, with no signs of water damage.
Continuous pagination up to page 1392; the final pages of the chapter on the Knights of Malta are missing—this omission appears to be original, likely the result of a publishing error.
On the last, blank page, there are visible handwritten notes by owners from that era, confirming that the missing final pages were already absent when the piece was in use.

PERIOD HARDCOVER, FULL CALF LEATHER ON BOARD, SIX-COLUMN SPINE, DECORATED AND GILDED.

Condition: Very Good (DB); pages slightly yellowed, overall in fairly good condition. The first approx. 30 pages show traces of staining in the center; further on, there are occasional small spots or minimal soiling on the margins, with no signs of water damage.
Continuous pagination through page 1392; the final pages of the chapter on the Knights of Malta are missing—this omission appears to be original, likely the result of a publishing error.

On the last, blank page, there are visible handwritten notes by owners from that era, confirming that the missing final pages were already absent when the piece was in use.

IMPRESSIVE SPINE