Regnault

Anonymous first edition illustrated with 12 folding plates including 1 map and 2 plans engraved by Tardieu (Illuminated map of Spain, Plan of Madrid, Plan of the Bay of Cadiz), 8 views and plans (Passage of the Bidassoa, Castle of Segovia, Aqueduct of Segovia, Facade of the Palace of Saint-Ildefonse, Escorial, View of Aranjuez, View of Gibraltar, Cathedral of Seville) and 1 double plate with the Statues of Charles V and Philip IV.
Contemporary full marbled brown sheep binding. Smooth spine richly decorated. Black sheep title and volume labels. Triple fillet frame on covers. In volume 3, a lack to the lower joint at head and joint split at upper joint at foot. One corner slightly bumped in volume 3. Some pale scattered foxing. Handsome copy.
The Chevalier de Bourgoing spent 7 years in Spain as embassy secretary. Customs, agriculture, commerce, industry, nobility, anecdotes, inquisition, administration... the author seeks to present a complete and accurate picture of Spain.

Second edition, after the first published in 1786, by the same publisher. It is illustrated with 3 folding maps on heavy paper, one of Europe, a second of central Asia, a third of the North Pole.
Contemporary full brown marbled calf bindings. Smooth spines decorated with 4 fleurons. Red morocco title labels and volume labels. Head of volume 1 slightly worn; that of volume 2 largely missing. Tail of volume 2 worn. 6 corners very bumped. One incision to the last compartment of volume 2. Rubbing and surface wear to boards. Some scattered foxing. One tear on a fold to the large map of Asia.
Composed of a series of letters, Mackintosh's travels aim essentially at describing the situation of Hindustan, and the English presence in India. This journey nevertheless passes through Europe (description of the Netherlands, Antwerp, Nantes and Lorient), the Cape of Good Hope, and Bourbon Island, where Mackintosh was held prisoner. Some letters appear to have very diverse subjects but all in fact relate to England's situation and its future in the Indies, such as letters concerning the war between the Americans and the English, or those concerning the principal English chiefs of the Indies. Interesting appendix On the ants that attack sugar cane.
Capper's Journey, colonel of the East India Company, reveals to us the ancient overland route to the Indies, from Egypt. At the end, extract from Sparrmann's journey to the Cape of Good Hope.

First edition. Rare. Dedication to Monseigneur the Duke of Orléans, Philippe Égalité, Chartres was then under the same jurisdiction as Orléans.
Romantic binding in half blonde sheep. Smooth spines decorated with fleurons and gilt fillets. Corners very slightly bumped. A few pages of volume II very slightly stained.
Rare work not concerned solely, as its title might suggest, with history, but also with the geography of the city of Chartres, the origin of its main arteries. The author, lawyer and surveyor of the city, extensively documented himself in the archives and gathered everything that had been written of note since the origin of the city, anecdotes, events... The work proceeds chronologically from what is known earliest about the Chartrains up to 1786, in the form of annals. Information on agriculture, commerce, customs... A very useful and detailed index at the end of the volume. Finally, a directory of famous men of the Chartres region with biographical notices.
Ecclesiastical library stamp on the title page of each volume.

Second issue of the first edition with alternate title, illustrated with 3 folding maps (Spain, Madrid and the Bay of Cadiz) including the map of Spain hand-colored, and 9 plates of which 7 are folding.
Contemporary half brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with bold fillets. Title-label and volume label in fawn calf. Headcap of volume I partly worn, split on volume 2, a lack to volume 3; tail of volumes I and 2 partly split. Lower joint of volume 2 open at tail. Upper joint of volume 3 cracked at tail. Set heavily rubbed. Edges of volume I trimmed and those of other volumes bumped. 3 plates with tears. Dampstain at beginning of volume II.
The interest of this voyage is to focus on contemporary Spain at the end of the 18th century. It was written by a direct witness, the French ambassador to Madrid, Baron Jean François de Bourgoing. From 1782, he chose to visit Spain to establish a true picture of it. He presents all aspects, economy, commerce, institutions, cuisine...