BARRERE Pierre Nouvelle relation de la France equinoxiale, contenant la Description des Côtes de la Guiane ; de l’Isle de Cayenne ; le Commerce de cette Colonie ; les divers changemens arrivés dans ce Pays ; & les MÅ“urs & Coûtumes des différens Peuples Sauvages qui l’habitent. Avec des figures dessinées sur les lieux.

Sabin, 3604 ; Leclerc (1867), 119 ; Alden, 743/19.

First edition.

The naturalist Pierre Barrère (1690-1755), a doctor from Perpignan, travelled to French Guiana in 1722, where he stayed for five years. His account, says Leclerc, “is much sought-after for its accuracy”. After his return, Barrère obtained the chair of botany at the university of his native town.

The copper-engraved illustrations are extremely interesting and comprise 3 maps and 16 fold-out plates: Indians, pirogues, Cayenne roadstead, “Creole carried in a hammock”, Indian huts, manatee fishing, indigenous weapons and accessories, “Indian rifle”, etc.

Contemporary signature on the half-title: “Choiseul beaupré Duhamel”: this could be Marie-Anne de Choiseul-Beaupré, daughter of François-Joseph of the same name and Nicole de Stainville. She married François, Marquis du Hamel, in 1714. The copy may have belonged to their son Étienne du Hamel (1716-1781).

Nice copy, well bound. Other provenance : De Peren (armorial bookplate).