Jacques Desbordes

French first edition illustrated with 3 repeated frontispieces, one portrait, 6 folding maps and 26 folding plates, being 36 figures in total. The complete set of illustrations is present whereas most copies lack one or several plates. The Spanish original dates from 1609. "This translation is more complete than the original: the third volume is entirely composed of the history of conquests made by the Dutch in this country". Chadenat, 739p.
Armorial copy with arms stamped on the upper covers and cipher on the lower covers. Unidentified.
Contemporary full brown speckled sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with central fleuronné lozenges and roulettes on the bands. Brown sheep title label and volume labels. Arms and ciphers stamped on the covers with faded gilding or only traces of gilding. If the arms were gilt, the ciphers on the lower covers were stamped in blind. Traces of rubbing. 3 corners slightly bumped. Slight traces of dampstaining in upper margin on the first 3 leaves of volume I and the preliminary leaves, recurring sporadically on some leaves. Same on the title of volume 2 and some leaves and plates. Same in volume III, on the frontispiece, the endleaves, and appearing sporadically on some leaves and plates then recurring again, etc. Some foxing and browned pages. 3 plates have small paper patches on verso filling tears. Nibbling on the upper cover of volume II, and the lower cover of volume III.
Good armorial copy.
Archipelago of 632 islands in Indonesia, these Moluccan islands where spices were found very early attracted the covetousness of Europeans. This is one of the most important works for the history of the Philippine Islands, with precious documents on the navigators Drake and Magellan.
"Although this work is, for the most part, purely historical, one can nevertheless gather quite precious information on the physical state of the Moluccan Islands, on their productions, on indigenous customs, at the time of conquest". Boucher de la Richarderie, V, 184p.