Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

(Prevost d’Exiles, Antoine François). Histoire générale des voyages ou nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyages par mer et par terre [...]. Premier-quinzième volume. 15 vols.

With engr. portrait frontispiece, 207 engr. maps, and 289 copper plates. 4to. Contemp. full calf, spine with 2 labels, gilt. – Paris, Didot, 1746-1759.

First edition of one of the most important and most lavishly illustrated collection of travel accounts in the 18th century. Complete set of all 15 volumes edited or written by Abbé Prévost (1697-1763). Up to 1789, five more volumes were published, an index volume and four volumes by different authors. The first seven volumes are a translation of J. Green’s „General Collection of Voyages and Travels“ (London 1745-47). The work contains accounts of travels to Eastern India and Africa (vols. I-IV), China, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet (vols. V-VII), Dutch and French expeditions to Eastern India (vols. VII-IX), India, the Philippines, Japan (vol. X), travels to the South Sea and Australia (vol. XI), to Mexico, Peru, Brasil, and Northern America (vols. XII-XIV), attempts to pass through the Arctic and accounts on the Antilles (vol. XV). Among the more than 200 maps, most of them by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-72), is to point out the very detailed one of Peru. The world map, mentioned in vol. VI is not bound in. Otherwise all maps and plates mentioned in the bookbinder’s advices are present. – Provenence: From the collection of the Swiss noble man Emanuel May von Romainmôtier (1734-1802) with his ms. owner’s entry „Emanuel May“ at the beginning of the first volume. – Sabin 65402; Cohen/de Ricci 824; Tchemerzine IX, 232f. – The bindings with traces of use. All volumes inside very clean. A fine set in all. – Best.-Nr. 26405