Théophile-Étienne Gide (actif 1792 - 1837)

First edition of the French translation prepared by A. J. B. Defauconpret (see Brunet III, 555; Quérard IV, 230; not in Field).

The work is illustrated with 20 charming aquatint plates, 6 of them hand-coloured, and a folding plan. The English first edition contained only 13 aquatints.

Contemporary Bradel bindings in full sand-coloured paper boards, red morocco spine labels for title and volume numbers (partly faded), flat spines gilt with a central floral tool, light rubbing to spines, upper caps slightly worn, two corners bumped, entirely uncut. Period bindings.

Pleasant, clean internal condition.

Johnson was a British officer in India who chose to return to England by land. His narrative offers numerous observations on the social life, customs, religion, and dress of the peoples he encountered along the way.

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and a folding map of Beloutchistan and Sindhy, together with parts of Kotch, Sedjistan, Khorasan, and Persia (cf. Quérard VII, 300).

Traces of removed bookplates on the pastedowns.

Half blond sheepskin bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets and garlands, title and volume labels in fawn sheep, upper cap of the second volume lacking, small loss to the upper cap of the first volume, traces of rubbing to the spines, corners in green vellum, marbled paper boards, sprinkled edges, contemporary bindings.

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with one frontispiece plate in the first volume: "Infantrymen of Sindh in their battle dress", and a large folding map in the second volume: "Map of Beluchistan and Sindh, including parts of Cutch, Seistan, Khorasan, Persia, &c., drawn by Henry Pottinger, Lieutenant of the 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, in 1814" (cf. Quérard VII, 300).

Contemporary full green calf bindings, faded smooth spines gilt with fillets and small ship motifs, gilt rolls on slightly rubbed caps, gilt dentelle frames on covers, marbled endpapers lightly soiled at the edges, bookplates pasted on the front pastedowns, corners bumped, gilt fillets on the edges, yellow edges.

Some light scuffing, traces of restoration to the spines, internally well preserved with occasional foxing.

Henry Pottinger [1789–1856], British general, administrator, and diplomat, was one of the prominent figures of British colonial history.

“Dispatched to India as a cadet in 1804, he soon distinguished himself for his bravery and intelligence, was entrusted with several administrative duties which he carried out with skill, served for several years as judge and revenue collector in Ahmednagar (Deccan), later became political resident in Cutch, president of the regency in the same city, diplomatic agent in Sindh, took part in military operations on the frontier, was promoted to the rank of major general, and was granted the title of baronet in 1839, following the Afghan War.” Cf. Larousse.

After returning to England in 1840, Pottinger’s exceptional diplomatic career continued in China. From 1846 to 1849, he served as Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, before concluding his career as Governor of the Madras Presidency. After 1854, he retired to Malta, where he died.

Distinguished provenance: From the library of Talleyrand, with his bookplates pasted on the front pastedowns.

First edition, illustrated with a large folding map inserted as a plate (see Gay 1114; Playfair 692; Tailliart 1290: "Livre écrit entre la première (1836) et la deuxième (1837) expédition de Constantine : étude consciencieuse, documentée, sincère").

Modern half caramel calf binding, smooth spine gilt with double fillets, marbled paper sides, original upper wrapper preserved.

Some foxing.