PICART, BERNARD. 1673-1733.
The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the Various Nations of the Known World. London: Claude Du Bosc, 1731-39.
7 volumes in 6. Folio (447 x 275 mm). Half titles, titles in red and black with engraved vignettes, engraved dedication page in volume IV, 215 (of 220) engraved plates, many double-page or folding, engraved illustrations and headers in text. Modern quarter morocco and marbled boards. A few pages re-margined at outside edges, leaf 5O2 (pp 419-420) in volume 3 torn through but complete, dampstaining, especially to last volumes, browning and spotting throughout.

FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, A richly illustrated landmark work on religious tolerance. 'No other work before then had ever attempted, in word and image, such a grand sweep of human religions, Religious Ceremonies of the World marked a major turning point in European attitudes toward religious beliefs and hence the sacred' (Hunt, Jacob & Mijnhardt The Book that Changed Europe: Picart and Bernard's Religious Ceremonies of the World p 1). Picart's engravings 'are indeed so finely executed, both in the drawing and engraving, that there are few plates even at this day which excel them' (Field 1212, French edition). Sabin 4934.
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Lacking plates at p 20 in volume II; p 138 in volume IV; p 148 in volume V; pp 83 and 187 in volume VI.