Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Le Vaillant, François. Voyage dans l’interieur de l’Afrique, par le cap de bonne-éspérance, dans les années 1780, 81, 82, 83, 84 & 85. 2 vols.

With frontispiece to vol. I, and 11 (2 folded) copper plates in all. XXIV, 383 pp.; 403 pp. 8vo. Contemp. half calf with spine label (spines rubbed). – Paris, Leroy, 1790.

Account of Le Vaillant’s first journey to Africa, present here in its octavo edition, while a luxury edition in quarto was published in the same year. Le Vaillant (1753–1824) was sent by the Dutch East India Company to the Cape Province of South Africa in 1781. He made three journeys, one around Cape Town and Saldanha Bay, one eastwards from the Cape and the third north of the Orange River and into Great Namaqualand. The present account is famous indeed for its depictions of a Hottentot and a Caffre man and Hottentot woman, the last one being present in its first, uncensored state. Le Vaillant’s first journey was followed by a second one, of which the account was published in 1795. Besides his travel accounts, Le Vaillant became famous for his works on African ornithology. – Brunet III, 1034. – Inside fine. – Best.-Nr. 13446