Voyage de Monsieur Le Vaillant dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique, par le Cap de Bonne-Espérance

New edition, illustrated with 20 plates (animals, views, camps, natives) compared to 12 in the 1790 first edition, including 6 folding plates, all on heavy paper, including the famous plate of the Hottentot with apron, which is sometimes missing.
Bindings in full contemporary glazed marbled sheep. Smooth spines decorated with 2 fleurons and 2 urns in compartments, with roulette borders. Black morocco title and volume labels. Rubbing. Scratches to boards. Some pale foxing. Tear to outer margin of the Narina plate. Some leaves slightly proud. Good copy.
François Levaillant (1753-1824) was a French explorer and ornithologist. In 1781, the treasurer of the Dutch East India Company sent him to the Cape Province in South Africa. He collected numerous specimens in the region, bringing back more than 2000 bird skins to France. All his books enjoyed great success throughout Europe. His ornithological collection would join the museum in Leiden, France not acquiring it. Some bird names he created are still in use. Some time later, species would bear his name, such as Levaillant's Cuckoo. In the preface, the author recounts his childhood in Surinam and his first collecting passions. The work contains interesting descriptions of the Hottentots and Gonaquas, their customs and practices. The work was a great success, undoubtedly due to the author's colorful and adventurous narrative.