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

DSB, VII, 580.

First edition of this important work on inland navigation, one third of which is devoted to the canals and small canals of the French region of Languedoc.

The famous astronomer, abandoning his speciality, wrote this work after visiting the Languedoc canal in all its extent. The following parts deal with the canals planned or executed 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, the canals of Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Germany, Sweden, etc., as well as the 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 fine pltes are engraved by Ransonnette and La Gardette.

Very fine and fresh copy, printed on heavy laid paper. Complete with all plates and bound for Baron Barante.