I remember the event well..... I finished the last page of both volumes.... I read all the words in both of those BIG books. I think I was 10 or 11.
I 've read them several times and for my 20th birthday in 1961 my mom gave me both volumes the Occident volume 1 and The Orient Vol II combined into a single book.
Since then I found most of his other books in used book stores,
The Book of Marvels is a standard reference and I check it whenever I need to refresh my memory on one of the places.
What a great idea -- to add those books to your permanent library. I think I'll check my used book store and see what I find.