The Travels

Dictated about 1298 while Marco Polo was a prisoner in Genoa, this narrative follows Niccolo, Maffeo, and the young Marco from Venice across Persia and the Pamirs to the court of Kublai Khan. Marco describes years in the Khan's service, the cities and revenues of Cathay and Manzi, paper money, the post system, and the religions of the empire, with hearsay about Cipangu and the Indies. The party returns by sea. First-hand observation, official geography, and marvel sit side by side. The book is a medieval travel and embassy account, not a modern guidebook and not a novel of adventure.

Quarter-bound in blocked black buckram with textured paper sides printed with a marbled design by Jemma Lewis. Plain gold slipcase.