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.
Henry Pottinger [1789-1856], general, administrator, and English diplomat, was one of the prominent figures of colonial England. "Sent to India as a cadet in 1804, he quickly distinguished himself by his bravery and intelligence, was entrusted with several administrative functions, which he carried out with talent, served for several years as judge and revenue collector at Ahmedmaggar (Deccan), then became political resident at Cutch, president of regency in the same city, diplomatic agent in Sind, took part in army operations on the frontiers, was promoted major general and, in 1839, after the Afghan War, was made a baronet." After 1840, on his return to England, China became the stage for this exceptional British "agent." From 1846 to 1849, Pottinger held office as governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and ended his career as governor of the presidency of Madras. After 1854, he retired to Malta, where he died.