VENDU
Small 4to (236 x 170 mm) [16], 204, 49, [3], 81, [1], 23, [1], 35 pp., 4 folding engraved maps (2 linen-backed), 1 full-page engraved map and 12 plates. 19th century polished calf bound in style by Bedford, triple gilt filet on covers spine gilt with raised bands, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges (hinges expertly restored).
1 in stock
Sabin, 36944; Beinecke Lesser Antilles Collection, 68; J.C.B. III, p. 283-84; European Americana, 674/159; Streit I, 648.
One of the key French voyage compilations, this rare and important collection includes accounts which appear here for the first time, as well as translations into French of five important English voyages and narratives. Those parts relating to the Americas are de la Borde’s Relation…des Caraïbes and Relation de la Guiane (published here for the first time), and translations of Richard Blome’s A Description of the Island of Jamaica (1672), and Richard Ligon’s A True and Exact History of… Barbados (1657).
Other sections deal with Ethiopia, the Nile River, and the coast of Africa. The history of Barbados is illustrated with nine wonderful engraved plates of vegetation, including bananas, pineapple, a palm tree, a palmetto, and pomegranates, as well as scenes of island life, boats, people, and huts. The folding plans are architectural renderings of buildings in Barbados. The maps include a large folding map of Barbados (linenbacked), a large folding map of Abyssinia, with two engraved vignettes (also linenbacked), a smaller folding map of Jamaica, a smaller folding map of Virginia, Maryland, and New England, and a one-page of Ethiopia. The order in which the various parts were bound differs from copy to copy.
Henri Justel (1620-93), a book collector and scholar, was secretary to Louis XIV before fleeing France on the eve of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He settled in England, and was appointed Keeper of the King’s Library at St. James’s Palace.
A fine copy (without leaf *F3with divisionary title ‘Colonies Angloises’) from the Huth collection with his bookplate, date inked on to titlepage.
Detail :
– LIGON, Richard. Histoire de l’Isle des Barbades. 4 ff.n.ch., 204 pp., 1 large folding map (mounted on cloth), 12 engraved plates.
– WISCHE, Pierre (translatorr). Relation de la rivière du Nil, de sa source et de son cours. pp. [205]-252. 1 large folding map (mounted on cloth).
– Extrait de l’histoire d’Ethiopie, écrite en portugais par le P. Baltazar Telles. pp. [253]-262, 1 engraved map on the title verso.
– LA BORDE. Relation de l’origine, moeurs, coustumes, relation… des Isles Antilles de l’Amérique. 40 pp.
– Relation de la Guiane, et de ce qu’on peut y faire. pp.[41]-49.
– THOMAS. Description de l’Isle de la Jamaïque et de toutes celles que possèdent les Anglois dans l’Amérique. 1 f.n.ch., 27pp., 1 engraved folding map.
– Relation de l’Isle des Barbades. pp.[29]-45.
– Description de l’Isle de Saint Christophe. pp. 49-81. 1 engraved folding map (without leaf *F3 for dvisionary title ‘Colonies angloises’)
– Relation du voyage fait sur les costes d’Afrique. 23pp.
– Description de l’Empire du Prete-Jean (sic). 35 pp.
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