Le commerce de l'Amérique par Marseille, ou explication des Lettres-Patentes du Roi, portant Reglement pour le Commerce qui se fait de Marseille aux Isles Françoises de l'Amérique, données au mois de Février 1719. Et des Lettres-Patentes du Roi, pour la liberté du Commerce à la Côte de Guinée, données à Paris au mois de Janvier 1716. Avec les reglemens que ledit commerce a occasionnés, par un CitadinTrade between Marseille and the Americas, or Explanation of the King's Letters Patent Regulating Commerce from Marseille to the French Islands of America
First edition of this highly important work, presenting the full text of all decrees and ordinances relating to trade with the Americas, primarily the West Indies (cf. Sabin 11812. Leclerc 113. Barbier I, 649 c. Ined 1038, 1783 edition).
Illustrated with two engraved frontispiece titles and ten maps (nine folding), depicting South America, North America (repeated in vol. 2), Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Domingue (2), Cayenne and its surroundings, Louisiana, the Guinea coast, as well as twelve engraved plates showing botanical specimens (sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, cocoa), genre scenes (a Black king dispensing justice, a slave market, turtle fishing), various tools and objects (ventilator, suction pump), industrial activities (plantation layout, sugar mill, indigo workshop), etc.
Bound in modern pastiche bindings: half mottled tan sheep over marbled boards, spine with five raised bands adorned with gilt garlands, double gilt panels, red edges.
Minor black ink stains to the edges of volume one, a pleasant copy overall.