Author: Herbert, Thomas, 1606-1682.
Title: Some Years Travels Into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great : Describing More particularly the Empires of Persia and Industan : Interwoven with suck remarkable Occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later Times : as also, many other rich and Famous Kingdoms in the Oriental India, with the Isles adjacent: severally relating their Religion, Language, Customs and Habit : As also proper Observations concerning them.
Printer: Everingham, Robert.
Booksellers: Scott, Robert; Bassett, Thomas; Wright, John; Chiswell, Richard.
Place of Publication: London, England.
Year of Publication: 1677.
MSU Library Call Number: XX folio DS7 .H54 1677
Author & Content
Thomas Herbert was an English traveler, historian, and courtier to King Charles I. Between 1627 and 1630, he joined the trip to Persia, and continuing on throughout Africa. After returning, he wrote the first edition of this book, initially titled A Description of the Persian monarchy or A Description of the Persian Monarchy Now Beinge: The Orientall Indyes Iles and Other Parts of Greater Asia and Africk. The second edition, four years later, was a large expansion of the first edition, stretching past Persia geographically, or discussing the religious practices of the people. This was titled Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique. A third edition was released with more historical background and engravings, starting in 1664, and various impressions have been released since.
Third Edition, Fourth Impression Title Page
The travelogue was released as an account of the travels experienced from this mission to the Persian court of Shah Abbas I. Over time, Herbert became more involved in the “discovery” of differing cultures and practices in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He dove into the various forms of Islam, treatments of civilians, cultural norms — ex: funeral practices, treatment of women, religious practices. There were maps for each region, images of texture, and detailed descriptions of empires and countries — history, landscapes, religions. Herbert chose to cover every inch he could think of for these travels into a constantly evolving work.
Physical Description
This copy of Some Years Travels Into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great was originally published in 1677 — almost 350 years old. However, the book does not show its age, and has been handled with extreme care in its long history.
The front and back pastedown endleaves and front and back free endleaves are marbled. There are two armorial bookplates — one on the front pastedown endleaf, the other being on the front free endleaf.
[Continued] front free endleaf.
The fore-edge is yellow and lacking any cockling.
The front and back boards have completed, smooth leather.
There are environmental markings on the recto side of the back free endleaf, outlining the edge of the page, signifying a previously inserted object (likely another smaller page) that would protect the middle from darkening. On this same page, there is light handwriting, hinting at a previous sale for the book.
Second Edition Title Page Revised for Third Edition, 1677.
Here, the names of the printers are no longer on the title page, the date is different — 1638 has changed into 1677 — and there is a minor scribble adding the detail that it is the “third edition further inlarged”.
Second Edition Title Page, 1638; different printers, booksellers, dates, illustrations, etc.
In the original design of this specific title page, it will be used in future releases for progressing impressions, such as the one analyzed here. The difference between the image to the right and the pictured title page in the third edition, fourth impression is that, while keeping the same spirit of the 1638 version, the names of printers and booksellers, as well as the dates, have changed over the past few decades, being removed and revised for the current form. Additionally, the middle bottom design will in the future be expanded in its design on the shield. It is these little details that will differentiate it from the past while keeping a connection to the original release.
Provenance
Published in 1677, the book provides proof of having been in the hands of elites and scholars.
After being printed by Robert Everingham, this edition was sent off to booksellers. One of the sellers Thomas Basset (1634-1699) was a bookseller and publisher that specialized in law. The book is focused on travels, but it seems to find itself in the circle of law- and politics-focused persons.
The first known owner was not until around a century later. His name was William Bentham (1757-1837), his armorial bookplate being on the front pastedown endleaf. The only known portrait of him was from 1830. His bookplate has the initials “F.A.S.” and “F.L.S.” — “F.L.S.” likely standing for “Fellow of the Linnean Society” — focused on the science of natural history. “F.A.S.” is less known, the closest being the Society of Antiquaries of London — focused on archaeology and history. Likely later on, he gained the title of “F.R.S.” — “Fellow of the Royal Society” — in which it appeared on his 1830 portrait. He was formally known as William Bentham Esquire, and his bookplate states “[b]arrister at [l]aw”; similarly, on his description for his portrait, he was titled a “collector”, likely of the cultural arts and history artifacts and texts. These are two titles, along with his fellowships, that prove of higher status.
On the recto side of the back endleaf, there is faded writing with “P + Foss”, and a faded price to the right. It has no date (See image under “Physical Description”). Upon further research, this likely stands for “Payne and Foss” — London booksellers in the early to mid 1800s. The image to the right is a record published in 1837 for books on sale, the exact year that Bentham had passed away. This would be around when the next owner would purchase it.
William Smith (1808-1876) purchased this book at the auction for Bentham’s collection at his house in April of 1838. He was a printseller and antiquary, likely explaining the interest in this book published 161 years prior.
The next armorial bookplate, found on the front free endleaf, follows the timeline to be the next owner: John Dunn Gardner (1811-1903). He was more known as a politician. His name was changed from John Margetts at birth, to John Townshend from 1823-1843, in which he was de-legitimized and was formally known as John Dunn Gardner. The book follows the track of remaining in a certain elite circle, explaining its neat condition.
There were two documents reporting two auctions selling a massive library collection of a John Dunn Gardner in 1854 and 1875 in London; however, the title of this book is not found, so this can not be verified currently.
Sources
“About Us.” The Linnean Society, 2026. https://www.linnean.org/the-society.
“About Us: Royal Society.” The Royal Society, 2026. https://royalsociety.org/about-us/.
Bauman Rare Books. “Relation of Some Yeares Travaile First Edition – Thomas Herbert.” Bauman Rare Books, 2026. https://www.baumanrarebooks.com/rare-books/thomas-herbert/relation-of-some-yeares-travaile/84488.aspx#:~:text=(ASIA%2C%20AFRICA%2C%20AMERICA),Stansby%20and%20Jacob%20Bloome%2C%201634.
Beirouti, Charles. “Sir Thomas Herbert’s ‘Travels into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique’, 1627-30.” MEMOs, October 5, 2020. https://memorients.com/articles/sir-thomas-herberts-travels-into-divers-parts-of-asia-and-afrique-127-30.
Herbert, Thomas. “Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Asia and Afrique Describing Especially the Two Famous Empires, the Persian and Great Mogull … as Also, Many … Kingdomes in the Oriental India and Other Parts of Asia; Together with the Adjacent Iles … with a Revivall of the First Discoverer of America : Sir Thomas Herbert : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, January 1, 1970. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_hNn7DbdAKVAC/page/n5/mode/2up.
“John Dunn-Gardner (1811-1903) – Find a Grave…” Find a Grave, April 11, 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198258258/john-dunn-gardner.
“John Dunn-Gardner.” Wikipedia, February 24, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dunn-Gardner.
Kemp, Geoff. “Chapter 15 the Role of Good Administration of Justice in Admitting Untimely and Informal Documents before the International Court of Justice In: Time and International Adjudication.” Brill, 2026. https://brill.com/edcollchap/book/9789004716377/BP000022.xml.
“NPG D42311; William Bentham – Portrait – National Portrait Gallery.” National Portrait Gallery. Accessed 2026. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw217009/William-Bentham.
Royal Collection Trust. “Sir Thomas Herbert (1606-1682) – Some Years Travels into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great, Describing More Particularly the Empires of Persia and Industan… / [by Sir Thomas Herbert].” Royal Collection Trust, 2026. https://www.rct.uk/collection/1141951/some-years-travels-into-divers-parts-of-africa-and-asia-the-great-describing-more.
“Strategy & Values – Society of Antiquaries of London.” Society of Antiquaries of London, 2024. https://www.sal.org.uk/about-us/strategy-values/.
Tyszka, Dinah. “Thomas Herbert (1606-1682) – York Civic Trust.” York Civic Trust – Promoting Heritage – Shaping Tomorrow, August 19, 2018. https://yorkcivictrust.co.uk/heritage/civic-trust-plaques/thomas-herbert-1606-1682/.
Payne and Foss, 81, Pall Mall. “Catalogue of Printed Books and Manuscripts in Various Languages, Now on Sale.” HathiTrust, 1837. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044080262876&seq=1.
Evans, Robert Harding. “Catalogue of the Extensive and Valuable Topographcial Prints and Drawings of the Late William Bentham, Esq. F.S.A. and F.L.S. : Also His Portraits and Miscellaneous Prints. Which Will Be Sold by Auction by Mr. Evans, at His House, No. 39, Pall-Mall, on Tuesday, April 10, and Two Following Days, 1838.” The British Museum, 1838. https://library.britishmuseum.org/bib/196530.
Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. “Catalogue of the Remaining Portion of the Exceedingly Choice Library of John Dunn-Gardner …” Google Books, 1875. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalogue_of_the_Remaining_Portion_of_th/u0xFAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=travels.
Sotheby, Leigh, and John Wilkinson. “Catalogue of the Principal Portion of the Valuable Library of John Dunn Gardner … : Which Will Be Sold by Auction … July, 1854 : Gardner, John Dunn : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, 1854. https://archive.org/details/catalogueofprinc00gard/page/104/mode/2up.
Created by Reese Ehrhardt in Spring 2026 for Dr. Brockey’s HST 475. Special thank you to Tad Boehmer for translating the back free endleaf and tracking down previous locations when possible, as well as Professor Brockey for finding those missing links between owners when I found it impossible.
