Bidspirit auction | 1688 RELATION DE L'INQUISITION DE

1688 RELATION DE L'INQUISITION DE GOA, CHARLES DELLON (1649-C. 1710), 1ST ILLUSTRATED EDITION, PARIS, FRANCE - 'Relation de l'Inquisition de Goa' or 'The Narrative of the Inquisition of Goa' is a harrowing true story by the French Physician Charles Dellon relating his experiences as a victim of the Portuguese Inquisition. During his travels as a ship's surgeon he found himself in Portuguese controlled India, where he ran into trouble with their zealous inquisition. He was put on trial and subsequently jailed, having been accused of denying the validity of baptism and having blasphemed against the adoration of a crucifix, in addition to criticizing the inquisition. His punishment was to serve as a galley slave, which he did for the next 4 years, from Goa and Daman in India all the way to Brazil and eventually Lisbon, the very capital of Portugal itself. Eventually he escaped and fled back to France, where he lived the remainder of his days in the service of the Prince de Conti. This edition, being the 1st Parisian edition, is also the first illustrated edition, with the very first non-illustrated edition having been published the previous year in Leiden, the Netherlands. The front endpapers bear a variety of handwritten inscriptions from multiple hands. There are ~5 full page engravings of scenes from Dellon's journey, two of them being intricately detailed double-plate pieces, as well as many quarter-page engravings at the beginnings of certain chapters. There are a variety of woodcut decorations at the beginnings and ends of all chapters. This 1st Parisian edition was published by Daniel Horthemels in 1688. [26], 437, [25], [2, blank] pp. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not ship in-house. A list of recommended shippers will be provided. Dimensions: 6 1/2 x 3 3/4 in., (16.5 x 9.5 cm.) Condition: Very good overall with expected signs of age and use. Boards tight to spine. Spine with some loss to tail. Gilding very well preserved. Slight tears at edges to leaves between pg. 257-258, no loss to text or engravings themselves.