BELL, John. Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia, to Diverse Parts of Asia. Containing I. A Journey to Ispahan in Persia … II. A Journey to Pekin in China, through Siberia … To which is added, a translation of the Journal of Mr. de Lange, Resident of Russia at the Court of Pekin … III. A Journey from Moscow to Derbent in Persia … IV. A Journey from St. Petersburg to Constantinople. London [but Edinburgh]: printed for W. Homer. 1764.
Two volumes, small 8vo. Contemporary sprinkled calf, spines with raised bands, morocco lettering-pieces, compartments ornamented in gilt; pp. viii, 316; [ii], 405, engraved folding map covering the regions from Moscow to east Lake Baikal; both spines with restorations, marinal trace of worming to volume II, outer margin of map a little toned, a good copy with contemporary bookplate of Henry Streatfeild (1706-1762), a Kentish landowner and politician.
Second edition, first published the previous year by Foulis in Edinburgh. The Scottish diplomat served Tsar Peter the Great on varios missions. 'On his return Bell learned of another mission, to China, on which he was included following the recommendation of the British ambassador. Bell's account of his remarkable journey is recorded in his one publication, Travels from St Petersburg in Russia to Various Parts of Asia (1763). Despite the tedium of the sixteen-month expedition, Bell's account of the journey to Kazan and through Siberia to China is the most complete and interesting part of his travels. Of particular note are his descriptions of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese wall, and his residence in Peking (Beijing). The embassy left the capital on 2 March 1721 and arrived at Moscow on 5 January 1722. In the same year Bell accompanied an expedition into Persia as far as Derbent, but returned to St Petersburg in December 1722. In 1715 he had been on a mission from St. Petersburg to Persia and back. Of other particular interest is Bell's detailed and sympathetic description of travelling through Ukraine.
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