LALANDE Jérôme de Des Canaux de Navigation, et spécialement du canal de Languedoc.

DSB, VIII, 580.

First edition of one of the most beautiful works of the 18th century devoted to river navigation.

This is a sum on inland navigation, a third devoted to the canal and small canals of Languedoc. The famous astronomer, abandoning his specialty, composed this work after visiting the entire extent of the Languedoc canal. He praises this exemplary achievement which, when it was put into service in 1685, attracted engineers from all over Europe, and which today commands admiration and pride in the face of the incredible challenge and audacity of its designers. The following parts deal with the planned canals, the surroundings of the Rhône, the Burgundy canal, the planned or executed canals in Franche-Comté, Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne, those of the Seine, Marne, Picardy, Flanders, the Briare canal ( the oldest in France, navigation on rivers, tolls, canals of Italy, Spain, Netherlands, England, Germany, Sweden, etc., as well as canals of Asia and America .

"This is the first major account of the 17th century Canal du Midi. It covers the background history of Riquet's extraordinary and influential project together with details of its construction, administration and 'Anecdotes diverses'…. The work is a valuable source of information on many other French canals such as the Briare (forerunner of the Midi) and the Orléans as well as smaller regional waterways and various unexecuted schemes. It also contains sections on canals all over Europe, Asia, Africa, America and China. All his life Lalande was known for his love of the spectacular; in this case it has resulted in the most splendid of all canal books" (Julia Elton, in: Weinreb, cat. 50, item 130).

The plates are engraved by Ransonnette et La Gardette.

Rubbed but a nice copy.