Travel relations, antique maps, geographical discoveries and exploration accounts of distant lands and new world

First edition of these memoirs - extract from the first issue of the Description de l'Égypte, in the section titled "Etat Moderne", 
Bound in full modern cream parchment-style boards. Black morocco title label. A wide-margined, untrimmed copy.
The city of Qoçeyr lies on the shores of the Red Sea, along the trade route between Egypt and Arabia. The author stayed there during his journey in Egypt. M. Costaz undertook a voyage and stay in Nubia in 1799, from which he brought back these invaluable observations, of a still largely unknown region.

First edition of Langlès' translation from German, accompanied by 2 large folding maps on strong paper. Langlès is also responsible for the various notes and the memoir on oases, composed from Arabic authors. Another French edition appeared in 1802 and was made from the faulty English translation. Introduction by William Young, president of the African Society of London. Several memoirs expand the edition: Clarifications on the geography of Africa by Rennel. Memoir on oases. Observations on the language of Syouah. Notice on the Berber language (Conjugation, grammar, vocabulary).

Contemporary half green calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Gilt title. Split to lower join

The rare first French edition, translated by Jean-Baptiste Robinet, after the first English edition published in 1769. Four attractive separate engraved title pages. Changuion catalogue at the end of the third part. The edition shared in Paris with Le Jay appeared a few months later and does not have engraved titles.
Contemporary binding in full marbled brown sheep. Decorated raised-band spine. Beige morocco title label, tobacco morocco volume label. Triple fillet frame on boards. Loss to lower joint at foot of volume I. 3 corners bumped. Handsome copy, fresh overall.
Epistolary novel set in Canada. "The romantic customs of Canada and the manners of its inhabitants are described

First edition, illustrated with a title vignette, 6 folding maps and 2 folding plates (sun and moon positions, diagrams); a map of the coasts of Acadia and Isle Royale, one of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, plan of Canseau harbor, the southeastern coasts of Isle Royale, plan of Chibouctou harbor, southeastern point of Acadia, 
Presentation copy with the cipher and arms of Louis XV.
Contemporary binding in full marbled and glazed brown sheep. Spine with raised bands decorated with the repeated cipher of Louis XV. Red morocco title label. Boards stamped with the gilt arms of Louis XV. Triple gilt fillet frame on boards. 2 compartments restored partially effacing the ciph

The rare first edition, illustrated with a folding map.

Contemporary half green sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with fillets. Gilt title. Tear to headcap with loss. One corner stripped of paper. Rubbing. Trace of pale dampstain on the map and from the first page of text to p. 69 in lower margin, and on the table. Stains on spine.
Physical and human geography of Egypt, Syria, Arabia and India, customs and manners. The volume was published when Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition had just been launched; it evokes the mythical route followed by Alexander the Great, from Egypt to India, a route coveted by the French.

NB: This work is available at th

The rare first edition of these two volumes published two years apart, the continuation of which would never see the light of day. With one frontispiece and one large folding genealogical chart.
Copy with the arms of Louis XV stamped on the boards, and his cipher repeated on the spine, a presentation copy.
Contemporary full marbled brown calf bindings. Spine with raised bands decorated with Louis XV's cipher repeated four times with angular fleurs-de-lys. Red morocco title and volume labels. Armorial boards. Triple gilt fillet frame on boards. Headcaps restored. Several splits along the upper joint of volume I and volume II. Corners and certain areas of the leading

The rare first edition published anonymously, illustrated with a large folding map of the thirteen Swiss cantons and five folding plates.

Contemporary full sheep binding, spine with five raised bands ornately gilt in compartments with roulette work and fleurons, as well as a red title-label, covers ruled in blind, all edges speckled red. Head damaged with loss, foot rubbed, two corners bumped and an abrasion to the front board. Worming to upper inner margin throughout the volume, another slightly more extensive from page 207, without loss to text.
Contemporary manuscript gift inscription on the title page.

A handsome copy.

Complete first edition in six volumes, illustrated with decorative headpieces. 

Contemporary bindings in full marbled brown calf, spines with six raised bands decorated with red morocco title and volume labels, fleurons and double gilt frame fillets, triple fillets stamped in blind framing the boards, double gilt fillets on the leading edges, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, all edges marbled. Title pages in red and black. Headcaps worn, title labels of volumes 1, 3, 4 and 6 and volume labels of volumes 4, 5 and 6 missing, some lacks to the compartments, leather split at the joint of the first volume, joints of other volumes often slightly cracked at head or foot, boards and l

First edition, with a frontispiece signed L.F.D.B. Title page in red and black.
Full marbled brown sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with acorn tools framed by foliage. Red morocco title label. One lack at head. One tear with loss at tail. Corners slightly bumped. Lacking the 2 marbled endpapers at the beginning of the work.
A Turk is sent by his sovereign to the principal courts of Europe to bear witness. The narrator begins his journey through Russia, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, then passes through Poland, finally to Vienna... The letters deal with varied subjects, European affairs, the power of Austria, French affairs, opinions on eunuchs, Amsterdam and the East India Compan

French first edition, following the English first edition of 1763.
Copy with the arms of Anne-louis-Alexandre de Montmorency, (D'or à la croix de gueules cantonnée de seize alérions d'azur ordonnés 4 et 4) lieutenant-general of the king's armies, captain of the king's guards.
Contemporary full speckled calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with 5 alérions of the Montmorency family. Arms stamped on covers. Red morocco title label. Rubbing. Spine browned. 2 corners slightly bumped. Browning to margins of half-title and title page, small worming in margins. Handsome copy.
Lady Montagu was the wife of the English ambassador to Constantinople. The principal interest of t

New edition (third?) and first in 6 volumes. The first edition dates from 1746. Les Songes philosophiques are in first edition.
Contemporary full speckled brown calf bindings. Smooth spines decorated. Red morocco title and volume labels. Triple gilt fillet and star cornerpieces on boards. All edges red. Three head caps and three tail caps worn. A few corners very slightly bumped.
The Lettres chinoises, inaugurated by the same author as the Lettres juives have this typical Enlightenment design of comparing the customs and habits of several civilizations; the work takes up the scheme, always humorous, of the first work of this type: L'espion de la co