Early and important work on the laplanders, with numerous engravings

Johannes Schefferus:

Histoire de la Laponie, sa description, l’origine, les moeurs, la maniere de vivre de ses habitans, leur religion, leur magie, & les choses rares du païs.

Paris, veuve Olivier de Varennes, 1678. 4to. 23,8 by 17 cms. [14] + 408 pp. + engraved title + 21 engraved plates + folding engraved map. Seven illustrations in text.

Worn contemporary full calf, spine gilt in compartments with handwritten paper label. Bookplate (Loriol). Occasional light staining and soiling, a few faint waterstains, front flyleaf creased, rear flyleaf lacking. One of the figures of the engraved title with pinholes along edges, visible on reverse.

Cf. Lindberg, Swedish Books, 28. The first authoritative work since Olaus Magnus in the 16th century about the laplanders, their history and culture. Originally published in Latin in 1673, this is one of a few translations which appeared soon afterwards. The present French edition was dedicated to Count Carl Bonde, Swedish Ambassador to France.

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