François Buisson

First edition of Pierre Le Tourneur’s French translation, published in Paris by Buisson in 1787, in two quarto volumes. It appeared the same year as a more common three-volume octavo edition issued by the same publisher. The work is illustrated with a folding frontispiece showing a view of the Cape, a large folding map of the Cape and 15 hors-texte plates, several folding. In the present copy, the plates have been bound at the end of volumes I and II. Some still bear the indication “Tom. III”, inherited from the pagination of the octavo edition, showing that the two authorised editions circulated with the same engraved plates.

Atlas volume only from this important 8-volume work, produced within the broader movement to generalize the use of statistics initiated by ministers François de Neufchâteau and subsequently Chaptal. 

Contemporary half flexible paper boards, smooth spine without lettering in blue cloth, marbled paper-covered boards with a printed title label of the period to the centre of the upper cover, spine restored.

Marginal dampstaining to the boards, occasional spotting or soiling to the margins of some leaves.

Herbin, who coordinated the work, draws upon official data that prefects were required to supply for this purpose. 

This volume, in accordance with the table of...

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with a plate showing the alphabet and a large folding map at the end of the first volume (cf. Quérard V, 561). Two modern bookplates pasted to the front pastedowns. 

Contemporary full marbled tan calf bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt friezes (partly rubbed), blond morocco lettering-piece, lower headcap slightly damaged, some wear to joints and boards, old restorations on boards, a few bumped corners, gilt rolls on board edges, red edges.

Small ink stain and marginal tear on the map, otherwise a clean and appealing copy.

The most comprehensive work of its time devoted to the largest island of...

First posthumous edition of Jacques le Fataliste et son maître, published in Paris by François Buisson in 1796 on Holland paper. The text is preceded by À la mémoire de Diderot by Jacques-Henri Meister, a close friend of Diderot and Grimm’s successor as director of the Correspondance littéraire.

Contemporary full mottled brown calf, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration, red morocco lettering-piece and black morocco numbering-piece. Small...

Statement of second edition, illustrated with three figures engraved by Tardieu. The first edition appeared in 3 vols. 18mo, the same year.
Full marbled brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red long grain morocco title-label and volume labels. A tear with loss at head of first volume. Rubbing. 2 corners slightly bumped. Headcap of volume II partly worn away.
Collection of light and gallant tales by François de Lantier. Verses he wrote for Madame du Barry earned him a pension from Choiseul and a position in Dresden. He is the author of the voyages d'Anténor. Of his tales, he himself wrote in his preface: "it is better to write fairy tales than political dreams and...