I have here for sale a 4-book set entitled A NEW VOYAGE TO ITALY with Curious Observations on several other Countries, as Germany, Switzerland, Savoy, Geneva, Flanders and Holland, together with Useful Instructions for those who shall travel thither, by Maximilian Misson.  The 4 volumes are Vol I Part I, Vol I Part II, Vol II Part I and Vol II Part II.  The first 3 volumes are bound similarly, are fourth editions and were published in 1714 by R Bonwicke et al.  The 4th is a fifth edition and was published in 1739 by J and J Bonwick et al.  There are a total of 32 plates throughout the four books, divided as follows: 12 in the first book, 4 in the second, 14 in the third and 2 in the fourth. It is rare to find all four parts for sale - at the moment on the internet there is just one copy of Volume I for sale (in Germany) and one copy of Volume II for sale (in USA).

Vols I-III are bound in tan calf leather hardboards with a gilt border.  5 raised bands, blind stamped tooling.  The title blocks are missing on all three.  Spines are darkened and there is rubbing to all boards.  Some joints are split but the boards all still feel fairly firm.  Pages generally are clean but sunned, although there are some small spots of foxing here and there and first and last pages can be heavily foxed.  Staining to the top edge of last few pages of Vol II Part I.  Vol II Part II is bound in mottled dark brown leather hardboards with gilt border.  5 raised bands, gilt tooling and a missing title block to the spine.  Front joint split but board firm.  Scuffed to board edges.  Bookplate to front endpaper.  Pages clean and firmly bound.  Vol I Part I - 346 pages, Vol I Part II - 376 pages, Vol II Part I - 378 pages, Vol II Part II - 353 pages. The books measure 20 cm x 12 cm.

Travel report by the French writer and Councilor of Parliament Maximilian Masson (1650 - 1722). Masson left France after Louis XIV revoked the commandments of tolerance that Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) had granted the Huguenots in the Edict of Nantes in 1598, and turned to England. In 1687 and 1688 he accompanied the brothers James and Charles von Ormond, grandsons of the Duke of Ormond, on their "Grand Tour", a journey through the countries of Central Europe, which was mandatory for sons of the European nobility. He takes travelers through Holland, Flanders, Germany and Switzerland as far as Italy. Masson's description of this journey and its various stations is considered to be one of the most important and illustrative travel books of the 18th century, especially with regard to Italy.The following cities, among others, are described in detail: Rotterdam; Leyden; Amsterdam; Utrecht; Arnhem; Duisburg; Bonn; Andernach; Koblenz; Frankfurt; Mannheim; Heidelberg; Nuremberg; Munich; Innsbruck; Verona; Padua; Venice (very detailed and including a map!); Naples; Castellana; Verona; Rome; Florence; Milan; Geneva; Bern.