La porte ouverte, pour parvenir à la connoissance du paganisme caché. Ou la vraye representation de la vie, des moeurs, de la religion, & du service divin des Bramines, qui demeurent sur les costes de Chormandel, & aux pays circonvoisins. .. Traduite en François par .. Thomas La Grue.

Amsterdam, Jean Schipper, 1670.4to. Contemporary speckled vellum, spine ribbed. With engraved title page, folding engraved plate showing different incarnations and 5 engraved illustrations (3 fullpage). (16),371,(4) pp.First French edition. - First published in Dutch De open-deure, tot het verborgen heydendom, Leyden 1651. 'This is the earliest European account of Hinduism in Southern India. Rogerius left in 1630 and worked in Palicatta (Coromandel) for ten years. He then went to Batavia where he served the Portuguese Church for five years. He repatriated in 1647 and settled in Gouda where he died in 1649' (Landwehr, VOC). This is the first work in Europe to publish the translation of a piece of Sanscrit literature (the Sayings of Bhartrhari, on pp. 291-339). The curious plates depict processions, ceremonies and self-chastisement. This copy belonged to François Pétis de la Croix (1653-1713) with his owner's entry and purchase date August 28, 1697, and his notes and comments in the margins. Pétis de la Croix, son of the king's interpreter for oriental languages was educated to succeed his father. He was an eminent orientalist, spoke arab, turkish and the languages of Persia, Tartar and Ethiopia. He was an attaché to the navy, the Foreign Office and interpretor to the King (Howgego p.812). Roger prepared probably the most thorough description of south-Indian Hinduism to be published before the end of the 19th century (Howgego p.903). The first authentic record of Hindu culture as practised by the Tamil Brahmins of South India. - A fine association copy.Landwehr, VOC, 652; Tiele 928; Cat. NHSM I, p.251.