1687 – Letters on Switzerland & Italy – Burnet | Travel Letters to Robert Boyle

Gilbert Burnet was an important 17th-century Scottish historian whose works were highly influential and have remained important references into the 20th-century. His Letters describe Burnet’s travels through Switzerland, Italy, and parts of Germany during 1685–1686. They were first published in Amsterdam around 1686/1687 and became quite popular, much in part to their connection to Robert Boyle, for whom these letters were written.

The work records Burnet’s observations during his travels through Switzerland, Italy, and parts of Germany in 1685 and 1686. Subjects include the political systems of Swiss cantons, Italian states, Protestant and Catholic territories, and descriptions of important cities such as Zurich and Milan.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Some Letters Containing an Account of What Seemed Most Remarkable in Travelling Thro’ Switzerland, Italy
• Author(s): Gilbert Burnet
• Contributor(s): Robert Boyle (Recipient of Letters)
• Publisher: Printed in the Year 1687
• Binding: Full leather
• Format: (12mo), single volume
• Size:  6.25in x 4in (16cm x 10cm)
• Collation: 225 [i.e. 244] pages
• Contents Include:
  • Letters addressed to Robert Boyle
  • Travels through Switzerland
  • Travels through Italy
  • Observations on Protestant states
  • Observations on Catholic states
  • Swiss political systems
  • Italian states and governments
  • Descriptions of Zurich and Milan
• Reference(s): Wing B 5914

Condition:

Very Good. Full leather binding remains tight and secure. Light rubbing is present to edges and corners. Pages are generally clean with no major loss or tears. Leather remains in very good condition.

Why Collect This?

• Important travel account by historian Gilbert Burnet
• Written as correspondence to Robert Boyle

Item Number: #50587