Saussure was almost single-handedly responsible for drawing attention to the Alps and particularly Mont Blanc. He visited Chamonix in 1760 and established a prize for the first ascent of Mont Blanc, which was achieved in 1786. Saussure reached the summit himself the following year and published 'Relation abregée d'un Voyage a la Cime du Mont-Blanc', the first published account of the ascent of the mountain. The present work was his magnum opus and two further volumes appeared in 1796.

Saussure was almost single-handedly responsible for drawing attention to the Alps and particularly Mont Blanc. He visited Chamonix in 1760 and established a prize for the first ascent of Mont Blanc, which was achieved in 1786. Saussure reached the summit himself the following year and published 'Relation abregée d'un Voyage a la Cime du Mont-Blanc', the first published account of the ascent of the mountain. The present work was his magnum opus and two further volumes appeared in 1796.

Volume 1 (AA/1/12): The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, Part the First. By William Vincent, Dean of Westminster, OW, and Headmaster. Contains an account of the navigation of the ancients and dissertations. Handwritten inscriptions from previous owners, and inserted drawings of the author.
Volume 2 (AA/1/13): The Voyage of Nearchus, The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea. Translated from Greek by William Vincent, Dean of Westminster, OW, and Headmaster. Addressed to E.B. Impey (Elijah Impey) from the author. Front cover almost detached.
Volume 3 (AA/1/14): The Voyage of Nearchus and The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea. Translated from Greek by William Vincent, Dean of Westminster, OW, and Headmaster. Record found between pages listing geographical locations and maps.
Volume 4 (AA/1/15): The Voyage of Nearchus from the Indus to the Euphrates. By William Vincent. Also contains three dissertations: two by Rev. Samuel Horsley, one by William Wales.

3 pp.