Labé

First edition, very rare (cf. Cordier, Sinica, 1476); the NUC records only a single copy.

Spine inexpertly repaired with an adhesive strip, losses to the corners of the spine and covers, wrappers browned.

Melchior Yvan (1803-1873), physician and politician, took part in the mission sent to China under the direction of the diplomat Lagrené, with the aim of concluding a treaty of commerce and navigation with that country. He published his account of the journey in several parts between 1850 and 1855.

This pamphlet appears to be one of the author's very earliest publications relating to China.

First edition in book form; the rare original edition was issued in parts between 1845 and 1856 (Brunet, I, 1707. Garrison and Morton reference three works by Cazenave on skin diseases).

Illustrated with 60 large and striking hand-colored plates.

Contemporary half red shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands adorned with double gilt and black fillets, sides covered in marbled “cat’s eye” paper, some rubbing to the upper portion of the front board, endpapers and pastedowns in combed marbled paper, corners a bit worn; later binding.

Minor foxing, a pleasing copy overall.

First edition.

The veterinarian Henri-Mamert-Onésime Delafond (1805–1861) devoted particular attention to contagious diseases of livestock, focusing especially on anthrax and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and published several successive monographs on these subjects throughout his career; he became director of the École d’Alfort in 1860, shortly before his death.

Light foxing; a dampstain affecting the index leaves; minor losses at the corners of the boards.

Provenance: from the library of the veterinarian Jean-Henry Magne, with his manuscript ex-libris at the head of the upper cover.