Author: SONNERAT, M. (Pierre)
Title: Voyage Aux Indes Orientales Et a la Chine, Fait Par Ordre Du Roi, Depuis 1774 Jusqu'En 1781: Dans Lequel on Traite Des Moeurs, de la Religion, Des Sciences & Des Arts Des Indiens, Des Chinois, Des Pégouins, & Des Madégasses ; Suivi D'Observations Sur le Cap de Bonne-Espérance, Les Isles de France &C de Bourbon, Les Maldives, Ceylan, Malacca, Les Philippines & Les Moluques, & de Recherches Sur L'Histoire Naturelle de Ces Pays
Description: Paris, Chez l'Auteur, Froule, Nyon, Barrois, le jeune, 1782. First Edition. Hardcover. Two quarto (/8" x 10-1/4") volumes bound in contemporary gilt-ruled calf leather sympathetically rebacked preserving the gilt-decorated spines with morocco spine labels;[iii] - [xvi], 317, [1]; [x], v - viii, 298 pages with the list of subscribers bound in volume 2 following the title page, half titles lacking. Illustrated with 140 full-page engravings, including several double page, of native life and natural history engraved by Poisson from drawings by Sonnerat. The author traveled to the Maldives, Ceylon, the Phillipines, China, Burma, Madagascar, the Cape of Good Hope, and elsewhere. A much less desirable octavo edition was published in the same year. Armorial bookplate of W. W. Rockhill on front pastedowns. Scattered light foxing, a few plates and leaves toned. Near Fine Brunet V, 442: "Pour la beaute des epreuves, cette edition est preferable a celle de 1806"; Cordier, Sinica II, 2102; Hill 1608: a "celebrated classic of natural history exploration and discoveries in the Far East"; Nissen IVB 886; Pritzel 8774; Wood 577; Zimmer 597.

Keywords: Illustrated Books, Natural History, Ornithology, Far East, Plants, Birds, China, India, Maldives, Philippines, Ceylon, 18th Century, Botany Natural History Travel to Orient Far East Ornithology


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