Rare first edition illustrated with a folding plan of the city of Saigon and a separate map showing the various cultivated products.
Minor stains and insignificant marginal tears on the covers.
A pleasing copy.
First edition, printed in a small number of copies on laid paper, extracted from the Journal asiatique; a single copy recorded in the CCF (Strasbourg).
Rare copy preserved in its original blue paper wrappers, as issued.
Traces of a label on the left margin of the front cover, a pleasing copy overall.
Inscribed by Giovanni Antonio Arri on the upper cover to archaeologist Désiré Raoul-Rochette (1789–1854), then a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
First edition, illustrated with 6 photographic plates and 2 folding maps.
This is the text of a lecture given at the Norwegian Geographical Society on 22 September 1937.
A very good copy.
Rare first edition, privately printed in small numbers, of this offprint from the Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archéologique de Constantine, vol. XXIV.
Only two copies recorded in the French collective catalogue (BnF and Lyon).
Vertical crease visible throughout the booklet.
Preserved in its original grey paper wrappers, without lettering, with the title and author's name handwritten in pencil.
A member of the Congregation of the White Fathers, particularly active in North Africa, Alfred-Louis Delattre (1850–1932) was first sent as a missionary to Algeria, later becoming chaplain of the Saint-Louis Church in Carthage, and eventually curator of the archaeological museum in Algiers.
Based on the Byrsa Hill in Carthage, he devoted over fifty years of his life to the exploration of the Carthaginian archaeological site, focusing especially on necropolises and early Christian basilicas. Inscribed, dated and signed by Alfred-Louis Delattre at the head of the first page of text.
First edition of this occasional text, illustrated with 4 plates outside the text.
Spine faintly faded, a rare and attractive copy.
Archbishop of Algiers from 1867, Charles Lavigerie (1825–1892) would become in 1884 Primate of Africa through his exceptional accumulation of titles, including the restored See of Carthage.
He took an early interest in the excavations of the Carthage site.
Very rare first edition printed by the Bureaux de l'armée nationale (only two copies recorded in the CCF: ASOM and Nanterre).
A pleasant copy.
The pamphlet brings together the texts of two lectures: the first delivered on 19 June 1924 in Hanoi, the second on 10 December 1924 in Paris; both advocate for a systematic effort to provide indigenous populations with access to education.
A former captain in the colonial artillery, Paul Monet (1884–1941) was then head of the Annamite Students' Residence in Hanoi. He would soon gain attention for echoing Roland Dorgelès' stance on the exploitation of indigenous labour by French companies (Les Jauniers, 1930).
Uncommon first edition, illustrated with historiated initials and 7 plates (see Brunet I, 710).
Not listed in Atabey, Blackmer or Hage Chahine.
Contemporary full marbled tan calf, spine with five raised bands richly gilt with floral motifs, joints and spine rubbed with traces of restoration, cherry morocco label, covers framed in triple blind fillet, margins of covers rubbed, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, red edges.
Joints rubbed, corners worn, some foxing.
Rare copy of this historical and numismatic monograph devoted to the small kingdom of Osroene (or Edessa), which long served as a buffer state between the Persian and Roman empires.
Born in Königsberg, Gottlieb Siegfried Bayer (1694–1738) taught Greek and Latin humanities at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences from 1726 to 1737.
Contemporary ownership inscription of Louis de Boisses at foot of title page.
First edition of the French translation, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Iwakura Tomomi.
Contemporary binding in navy blue long-grain half morocco, flat spine decorated with gilt fillets and blind-stamped fleurons, red morocco lettering-piece running lengthwise, green cloth boards, minor fading and rubbing to covers, original blank wrappers preserved; modern binding.
Iwakura Tomomi (1825–1883) was a prominent figure of the Meiji era, whose influence played a key role in Japan's transformation.
Some handwritten annotations in ink and pencil on a pastedown, and an inscription in ink reading "Trautz (?) Kyoto. Jan 1935" on the endpaper.
Inscribed and signed by Leonardus Johannes Antonius van de Polder to Doctor Kniper, dated December 1922.
Bookplate of R.A. Scoales pasted on a pastedown.
Rare first edition, illustrated with a folding map bound at the end of the volume (cf. Backer & Sommervogel VIII, 827).
Only one copy recorded in the CCF (BnF).
Contemporary full black shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands adorned with blind-ruled fillets, minor rubbing to spine, covers framed with double and single blind fillets with corner volutes, some rubbing to covers, bumped corners, sprinkled edges.
Father Benito Viñes [Poboleda (Tarragona) 1837 – Havana 1893] arrived in Havana in 1870, where he was appointed director of the magnetic and meteorological observatory, a position he held until his death. His studies on Caribbean hurricanes remain authoritative works in the field.
First edition, one of 50 copies on deluxe paper, the only copies printed on large paper.
Fine copy.
First edition, illustrated with 26 folding tables framed typographically. (Not listed in Sabin, who only records under no. 22885 another economic publication by the same author, printed the same year.)
Contemporary half havana sheep binding, flat spine decorated with double gilt and blind fillets, brown sheep title label with minor losses, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards slightly faded at the margins, some paper losses to the covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, rubbing to edges, corners worn.
Joints restored; small tear affecting the text on pages 83–84 of the second part.
A rare and highly valuable source on the dire state of the Mexican economy in the final years of Santa Anna’s dictatorship.
The folding tables provide a detailed account of the country’s production (notably tobacco), report on the national debt, break down military expenditures (army and navy), customs revenues (by region), the state of taxation, and more.
One table is devoted to lottery revenues.
The second part of the work, containing supporting documents, bears a separate title: "Documentos que se acompañan al presupuesto de hacienda para el quinto año economico".
A good copy.
Provenance: from the library of A. Montluc, Consul General of Mexico in Paris, with his bookplate on the front pastedown.
First edition of the French translation, illustrated with 105 plates out of text (including 2 folding tables, 21 plans and maps, and 82 views and reproductions of documents). A remarkable record of one of the most significant instances of international opinion manipulation carried out by China and North Korea in the early stages of the Korean War: as early as 1952, North Korean and Chinese officials (including Zhou Enlai) accused the American army of using "insect vectors" on a large scale to spread various diseases among the populations of Korea and Manchuria (plague, cholera, etc.).
The entire operation had been meticulously staged, as definitively revealed by Soviet documents published in 1998.
Head and tail of spine with some losses, minor stains and marginal tears to the covers, two small holes to the lower edge of the rear board also affecting the rear endpaper, otherwise clean and sound throughout.
Rare.
First edition of both these rare fascicules; the first is illustrated with three folding plates at the end of the volume, the second with in-text illustrations.
Contemporary half bottle-green calf binding, smooth spine gilt with fillets and dotted rolls, as well as black fillets, some minor rubbing to joints, headcap worn, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges.
One of only three known contributions to the nascent field of Assyriology by the Austrian numismatist and traveller Isidore Löwenstern (1810–1858), who served as Danish consul in Constantinople.
Bound with, by the same author: Exposé des éléments constitutifs du système de la troisième écriture cunéiforme de Persépolis. Paris-Leipzig, Adolphe Franck, 1847, 101 pp., in-text illustrations. Copy from the library of the renowned archaeologist Honoré-Théodore, 8th Duke of Luynes (1803–1867), with his ex-libris vignette from the Château de Dampierre pasted to a pastedown.
First edition, printed in very limited numbers, of this offprint from the Revue archéologique, illustrated with 12 textual figures and 3 plates; only two copies listed in the CCF (Quai d'Orsay and Strasbourg).
Contemporary Bradel binding in olive green cloth-backed marbled boards, smooth spine with red morocco title label, original wrappers bound in.
Christophe-Edouard Mauss (1829–1914), architect to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was entrusted with several archaeological missions in the East (Thessaloniki, Smyrna, Alexandria), and was later sent by the French government to Jerusalem (1862–1874) to oversee the restoration of the Church of Saint Anne. He also developed a keen interest in ancient metrology, to which he devoted several monographs.
Bound at the end, three additional works by the same author:
First edition of the English translation by Michael Glenny, who first came to prominence with his translation of Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita in 1967. No deluxe paper copies issued.
Publisher’s binding in full black cloth, flat spine which shows some inherent creasing due to the laminated covering.
A handsome copy, with illustrations.
Very rare inscribed copy dated 27 April 1990 and signed by Boris Yeltsin.
From the library of Sam Yossman (Sam Jones) of the BBC Russian Service.
First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome copy, despite slight and marginal fading to the spine and covers.
First edition, only one other copy recorded (BnF).
Full dark purple morocco binding, spine with five raised bands with gilt floral motifs, gilt date at foot, spine slightly faded, covers numerously framed in gilt, gilt-tooled corners each adorned with a blue onlaid morocco medallion stamped with a central gilt fleuron, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, pastedown bookplate of Ernest Stroehlin, inner gilt dentelle, spine-ends ruled in gilt, very light rubbing to corners, all edges gilt. A tiny restored lack of paper to the upper part of the title page, not affecting the text.
Very rare anti-Protestant satire in the form of a dialogue between the renowned Protestant minister Mestrezat and the warden of the Charenton temple where Mestrezat officiated.
First edition of these extremely scarce memoirs (cf. Bourquelot V, 374. Tulard 1007. Bertier de Sauvigny 720).
Contemporary bindings in brown half sheep, flat spines decorated with gilt Romantic rolls and black floral tools, red morocco labels for volume numbers and titles, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, some corners worn, marbled edges.
Spine of volume four damaged, restorations to the spines, two lower caps rubbed, occasional foxing.
The Countess Merlin was born Maria de las Mercedes de Santa Cruz y Montalvo (1789–1852) in Havana.
Her memoirs offer valuable anecdotal insight into society life in Cuba, the Peninsular War, and more.
First edition (cf. Loukia Droulia 1817, Contominas 595, Blackmer 1372. Not in Atabey.)
Contemporary half blond calf, spine with five false raised bands adorned with gilt garlands, gilt tooling in compartments and blind fillets, gilt rolls at head and foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges.
Scattered foxing.
Before becoming the well-known historian and committed republican, Edgar Quinet (1803–1875) was part of the short-lived scientific commission of the Morea in 1829.
This volume records his impressions, with the second part titled De la Nature et de l'Histoire dans leurs rapports avec les Traditions Religieuses et Epiques.
Provenance: Library stamp of François Guizot on the half-title. Guizot himself, who in 1846 expelled Quinet from the Collège de France—along with his friend Michelet—for their anti-clerical stance.
Later belonged to Guizot’s descendant Robert de Witt, who signed and stamped the first flyleaf on March 11, 1875.
First edition, one of 40 copies printed on pur fil paper, this one numbered 1, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Complete with the folding map at the end of the volume.
A handsome and rare copy, untrimmed, of this work dedicated "To the glory of those who fell and those who prevailed, workers, soldiers, and commanders."
Preface by Marshal Franchet d'Esperey.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine very slightly faded, a pleasing copy.
Rare first edition, complete with its 17 plates, including 2 maps, 2 colored facsimiles of Japanese view and plan (view of Yedo, plan of Nagasaki), and 13 colored facsimiles of natural history drawings. (See Cordier, Japonica, 549 and Sinica, 2128. Numa Broc, Asie, 89-90.)
Some minor foxing, a faint dampstain on the final leaves, small restorations to the verso of the facsimiles.
Contemporary half green shagreen, spine slightly faded, with raised bands framed by gilt fillets, double gilt compartments with decorative tools, boards framed with a blind-stamped fillet, marbled paper boards slightly soiled, combed endpapers and pastedowns, painted edges.
A career diplomat, Charles de Chassiron (1818–1871) was part of Baron Gros’s diplomatic mission to Japan in 1858. He boarded the corvette *Laplace* with the other members of the mission in Shanghai on September 6, 1858, arrived at Shimoda on the 14th at 10 a.m., left during the night of September 19, landed in Edo (Tokyo) on the 26th, stayed until October 12, and departed the country from Nagasaki on October 22.
Chassiron’s *Notes* are a nearly verbatim transcription of the journal he kept during his stay; the appendix contains the text of the Franco-Japanese treaty signed on October 9. His travel journal thus represents an important milestone in the history of Franco-Japanese relations. His entries concerning Edo are particularly valuable for their care, precision, and integrity. Throughout Chassiron’s text runs a tension between the anxious caution of a disoriented diplomat and the observations of a traveler fascinated by Japan’s social order and industrial arts. The French, more perplexed than the British before Japanese reality, nonetheless allowed themselves to be charmed by it, bringing back the image of a feudal Japan rooted in espionage, and that of an artistic Japan. (Cf. Numa Broc.)
First edition published in the Bulletin de la Société des études indochinoises de Saïgon, no. 69.
Other contributions in this issue include poems, an analysis of Le Comte’s book, Lettres sur les moeurs des Chinois, and above all an insightful analytical index of the subjects addressed in the Bulletin of the Société des études indochinoises from its founding (1883) up to 1914.
Small losses and tears to the spine.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, sides covered in gilt-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
First edition of this broad overview, largely compiled from more detailed monographs then available.
It was reissued as early as 1843.
Contemporary half black sheepskin bindings, flat spines decorated with quadruple gilt fillets and gilt romantic arabesques, gilt rolls at foot, some wear to the headcap of the first volume and to the tail of the second. Boards decorated in blind with romantic motifs, school insignia [Institution Hortus], corners slightly rubbed, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges.
Some foxing, light rubbing to edges, endpapers and pastedowns slightly soiled at margins.
First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Journal asiatique.
Minor foxing, light discoloration spots to the margins, at the beginning and end of the volume.
Bradel binding in blue cloth-backed marbled boards with corners, smooth spine slightly darkened, cherry red shagreen title label, gilt initials at foot, marbled paper-covered boards.
A pupil of Silvestre de Sacy like so many others, Joseph-Toussaint Reinaud (1795–1867) succeeded him in 1838 at the chair of living Oriental languages; his primary scholarly interest was directed toward the Arab world. Copy from the library of agronomist Adrien de Gasparin (1783–1862), father of Agénor de Gasparin, with his ownership stamp on the title page.
Partly original edition of this newly expanded version, previously published in a single volume in 1727. Supporting documents appear at the end of the final volume, including the complete texts of the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück.
Contemporary full marbled glazed calf binding. Spines with raised bands decorated with floral tools in gilt compartments. Red morocco labels for titles and volume numbers. Red edges. Small loss to head of volume I and upper joint split at head. Losses along the upper joint of volume IV. One corner slightly worn. Some rubbing. Small tear at foot of volume II and occasional marginal dampstaining at head. A handsome set overall.
First edition, illustrated with 11 plates including a frontispiece. This copy has been enriched with a second frontispiece inserted before the half-title: the frontispiece from the Relation de la bataille de Marengo présentée à l'empereur par le Maréchal Berthier, published in 1808. This image, depicting Napoleon on horseback listening to Marshal Berthier outlining the battle plan held by a guard, has been mounted on red cloth. The booklet contains only a half-title, as the original cover—which has not been preserved—appears to have served as the title page: beneath a central imperial eagle, it simply bore the date and the mention “Paris, En vente chez tous les libraires.”
Volume bearing the arms and cipher of Napoleon III.
Contemporary full red shagreen binding. Spine with raised bands, decorated with five small bees. The upper board features the imperial arms at center, surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit, with four eagles in the corners and multiple frames. The lower board bears the cipher of Napoleon III. Moiré silk endpapers framed by a pattern of stars and circles. All edges gilt. Occasional light foxing.
A very handsome copy.
Rare first edition of the French translation, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Spine slightly sunned, a vertical shadow on the lower cover, internally clean and attractive.
First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome and rare copy.
First edition, one of the copies printed on pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue.
Illustrated.
A handsome copy.
First edition, illustrated with 31 plates outside the text, including a map, some folding or double-page. (cf Hague Chahine 1505).
A few insignificant spots of foxing, a pleasing copy overall.
Contemporary Bradel binding in green cloth-backed boards, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, red shagreen title label with a small angular defect, boards covered with 'cat’s eye' marbled paper. Contemporary binding.
The volume is also decorated with numerous illustrations in the text and is an offprint from the Nouvelles Archives des Missions scientifiques, vol. X, documenting the archaeological expedition in the Harra region, conducted alongside Frédéric Macler.
Inscribed by René Dussaud to Baron Rey on the half-title page.
An archaeologist and orientalist, Emmanuel Guillaume Rey (1837–1916) made three journeys to the Near East between 1857 and 1865, during which he explored Palestine, Syria, and southern Turkey. He published numerous works, notably on the Hauran (south of Damascus), the Ansarieh mountains (north of Mount Lebanon), the history and topography of the tribe of Judah, the military architecture of the Crusaders in Syria, and Latin rule in the East.
First edition, printed in small numbers as an offprint of the preface only: the full catalogue was later published between 1887 and 1896 in three large volumes.
Henri Michel Lavoix (1820–1892) was curator in the Department of Medals and Antiquities at the Bibliothèque Nationale.
A rare and appealing copy.
Inscribed and signed by Henri Michel Lavoix to the archaeologist Melchior de Vogüé (1829–1916).
Rare first French edition of the travel impressions of Prince Soltykoff, more an adaptation than a strict translation (cf. Vicaire, VII, 575. Schwab, 544. Only two copies listed in the CCF).
Illustrated with a two-tone lithographed frontispiece and 20 tinted lithographic plates by Trayer and Émile Beau after drawings by the author.
Contemporary green half-shagreen binding, flat spine decorated with double gilt fillets and broad blind-stamped fillets, dark green paper-covered boards, minor restorations and rubbing to head and foot of joints, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, period binding.
Some superficial wear and very faint foxing, otherwise a pleasant copy in contemporary binding.
Prince Alexei Soltykoff (1806–1859), a member of one of the most prominent Russian families, was sent on a diplomatic mission to Tehran in 1838 under the reign of Muhammad Shah. He spent nearly a year in Persia. Having no real calling for diplomacy, he abandoned the career soon after his return and settled in Paris to prepare for further travels in India.
A singular and even eccentric figure, Soltykoff had been fascinated with travel since childhood, and this mission provided him with his long-awaited opportunity to explore the Orient. Arriving via the Caucasus, he remained in Tehran until May 1839, which he observed and described extensively, particularly through the everyday lives of its inhabitants. The plates are of particular interest for their depiction of costumes (Saba, Bibliographie Française de l’Iran, p. 187 no. 211).
First edition, illustrated with 7 plates: a plan of Fort William and a large folding view of Calcutta in the first volume; 5 folding plates in the second volume (including 3 views of Mocha and its surroundings), see Gay 3317bis.
Contemporary full tree calf bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets, floral tools and geometric patterns, now largely faded, red morocco title-pieces, green bottle-morocco volume labels, some wear to joints, marbled endpapers, red-speckled yellow edges.
Rubbing to the spines, split to one joint.
Rare sole edition of one of the author's two travel accounts. A naval officer and son of a slave trader from Saint-Malo, Louis Ohier de Grandpré (1761–1846) had served in Suffren's campaign in India. He later turned to commerce, outfitting three ships in La Rochelle for trade and the slave trade.
His journeys took him to India (Bengal) and to the eastern coast of Arabia. His description of Yemen, and especially of the port of Mocha, is considered the first serious French account of the region.
Copy from the library of the Château de Menneval (Eure), with engraved bookplates mounted on the pastedowns.
First edition of the French translation.
Illustrated with photographs by Erica Anderson, with text and captions by Eugène Exman.
Preface by Daniel Halévy.
Pleasing copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket, showing minor losses and angular tears to the spine, along with some marginal scuffing to the panels.
Bookplate affixed to the inside front cover.
Rare dated and signed presentation inscription by Albert Schweitzer on a blank flyleaf: "A monsieur Bernard Tessier en souvenir de son passage à Lambaréné le 1.9.1956, Albert Schweitzer."
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on alfa paper, this one not justified, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, covers with gilt-patterned paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
Illustrated with 16 phototype plates.
First edition, one of the review copies.
Half shagreen binding with corners in burgundy, spine with four raised bands ruled in black, date gilt at foot, slight but harmless fading to the spine and margins of the boards, gilt-embossed paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine (restored) preserved, top edge gilt.
Rare dated inscription by Georges Duhamel signed with his real surname: "A Paul Souday hommage dévoué. GDuhamel avril 1918."
Our copy is further enriched with an autograph letter dated 16 December 1918, mounted on a stub, addressed to Paul Souday—though not mentioned by name—in which Duhamel expresses the joy and honour he felt at having recently been awarded the Prix Goncourt (Civilisation 1914–1918 was awarded the prize on 11 December 1918) for this work: "... le prix Goncourt me fait plaisir, mais moins encore que les quelques cordiales poignées de mains que je reçois à cette occasion."
Georges Duhamel expresses his high regard for his correspondent: "Vous m'avez déjà et très énergiquement témoigné votre sympathie. Soyez sûr que cette sympathie m'est chère. Et comme, en outre, elle m'est un guide précieux, je ferai tout ce que je pourrai pour la conserver et la mériter."
First edition, one of 240 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue.
A handsome copy.
First edition, one of 110 copies printed on pure Lana wove paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Half maroon shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands adorned with black fillets, gilt patterned paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A handsome copy, finely bound.
First edition, one of 50 copies on pur fil, ours being one of 4 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe papers after 5 hors commerce copies on Arches.
Bound in burgundy half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, cat's-eye patterned paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate affixed to a pastedown, top edge gilt, untrimmed. A handsome unsigned binding, likely by Devauchelle.
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome copy, uncut.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large paper copies along with a few hors commerce also printed on alfa.
A fine copy of this work dedicated to the memory of Simone Weil: "qui, si elle était morte assassinée, aurait consacré son dernier instant à prier pour ses bourreaux."
First edition, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the Emperor of Annam.
Modern binding in full flexible boards, covers in cat's-eye patterned paper, smooth black cloth spine without title, original wrappers preserved in poor condition and laid down.
Désiré Lacroix was a naval artillery captain.
Pleasant and scarce copy, lacking the atlas containing 40 plates.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on Marais vellum, ours unnumbered but duly justified at the foot of each spine "Marais" and watermarked, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A tear to the upper right corner of the rear cover of the last volume.
Handsome complete set in 6 volumes; the author deliberately halted the writing of this work, which deals as much with history as with military history and was originally intended to comprise ten volumes.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Contemporary half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands ruled in black, gilt date at foot, gilt-effect paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an attractive unsigned binding.
A handsome and rare copy, finely bound.
First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pure Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.
A fine copy.
Rare first edition (cf. Borba de Moraes II, 753: "famous book of navigational bearings". Rodrigues 2144.)
Minor marginal foxing on the endpapers, otherwise a clean and appealing copy.
Contemporary-style binding in quarter tree calf with corners, smooth spine, blind-ruled panels on marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Modern binding.
Baron Roussin (1781–1854) explored the coasts of Brazil in 1819–1820, during which he charted and described the Abrolhos archipelago—later made famous by Darwin’s observations aboard HMS Beagle (1832).
Manuscript ownership inscription: Guillotin.
Very rare first edition of the French translation by J. Castéra, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author (cf. Sabin 43417. Leclerc 756).
Stamp marks scratched out on the half-title and at the end of the volume, dated 22 August 1878, occasional foxing.
Contemporary half havana sheep binding, flat spine decorated with gilt fillets, fleurons and rose tools, red morocco title label, spine restored, marbled paper boards with marginal fading, one upper corner slightly bumped.
Pages 261 to 274 contain a Vocabulary of the Algonquin Language and that of the Knisteneaux, and pages 304 to 310 a Vocabulary of the Chipiouyane Language [Chippeway].
First edition, published by order of the Imperial Government of Brazil and illustrated with a folding color map at the end of the volume (cf. Garraux 169. Borba de Moraes I, 478).
Some light foxing, minor rubbing to the spine, a pleasing and scarce copy.
Contemporary binding in red half morocco-grained shagreen, smooth spine ruled in gilt with quadruple fillets, gilt coat of arms at foot of spine, small losses to head and tailcaps, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, period binding.
Emmanuel Liais, then Director of the Imperial Observatory of Rio de Janeiro, had been entrusted by Emperor Pedro II with various expeditions throughout the Brazilian territory.
First edition of the French translation of this remarkable study originally published in Vienna in the *Mines de l'Orient*.
The work, translated and enriched with observations and explanatory notes, followed by a dissertation on the location of the Pallacopas by J. Raimond, is illustrated with six folding plates at the end (rather than four, as stated on the title page).
Contemporary binding in green half sheep, spine slightly faded, gilt-stamped with a sphinx, gilt title, cat's-eye marbled paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern binding.
Some foxing, mainly affecting the opening leaves.
Rich provides "une description très détaillée de toutes les ruines et de tous les tertres [...] qui s'étendent à une grande distance sur les deux rives de l'Euphrate" (Michaud).
His work on Babylon is regarded as the starting point of Mesopotamian archaeology (Chahine, 4032).
First edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.
A rare and attractive copy.
Preface by Jean de La Varende.
First edition, illustrated with four plates including a map of the Sudan.
The plates depict human types and a map of Sudan, drawn "according to the Negro slaves in Bahia".
Modern Bradel binding in black half shagreen, smooth spine decorated with two gilt floral tools, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved (small hole on rear board).
A naturalist and explorer, Francis de Castelnau undertook, between 1843 and 1847, a major expedition across South America, notably visiting Peru and Brazil.
In 1848, he was appointed French consul in Bahia. Upon his arrival, he observed that several African-born slaves could read and write Arabic and Libyco-Berber. Through interviews, some of them spoke to him about the Niams-Niams, or tailed men, said to live in a region referred to here as "Sudan", corresponding to present-day Nigeria. In this work, Castelnau presents the information he gathered on the subject. He describes several tribes from the Sudan region represented among the Bahia slaves: Nagos, Gèges or Dahomeys, Gallinhas, Minas, Borgos or Bargous, Tapas, Angols or Congos, Hausas, Fulanis or Foullatahs. He then recounts the interrogations of Bahia slaves who claimed to have seen or heard of the Niams-Niams, thereby collecting a wealth of ethnographic and geographic information on that part of Africa. The volume ends with a vocabulary section in several Sudanese languages (Hausa, Fulani, Courami, Java).
A handsome and scarce copy.
Original edition printed in a limited number of copies of this excerpt from Bulletin of the Société de géographie (1882-1883).
This text was re-edited in 1885 by Hachette.
Work illustrated with figures in the text and a large folding map at the end (Route from Médine to Nango by the Gallieni mission).
Binding in black half-shagreen, spine with five raised bands decorated with cold fillets, boards of handmade paper, preserved original covers, modern binding signed by Boichot.
Covers restored with some stains, pleasant interior condition.
Work illustrated with figures in the text and a large folding map at the end (Route from Médine to Nango by the Gallieni mission).
Joseph Gallieni (1849-1916) was sent on a mission to the banks of the Niger in 1879. It was there that he negotiated a commercial agreement between the Sultanate of Ségou and France, granting our country trade rights on the Upper Niger.
Autograph letter signed by Joseph Gallieni to his cousin Henri Périssé, dated from Fort-de-France, November 23, 1884 (after this African mission, Gallieni had been assigned to Martinique).
First edition of this collection of observations and reports on French Algeria, whose pacification had just been completed (cf. Quérard VI 70, Playfair 1264. See also Gay 953 and Tailliart 812).
Contemporary bindings in half bottle-green sheep, flat spines decorated with gilt fillets and triple gilt panels, a gilt fillet framing a large plaque decorated with blind-stamped motifs on the percaline-covered boards, school stamp [Pensionnat de M. Ballé], marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, gilt fillets at head- and tailcaps, period bindings.
Some restorations to spine ends and joints; school prize labels affixed opposite the half-titles.
The work is sometimes attributed to Jean-Joseph, elder brother of Baptistin (1809–1864), who was more prolific and better known (success attracts credit): "Un des livres importants pour la description de l'Algérie ; il contient une foule de renseignements de toute nature et des vues personnelles sur un certain nombre de questions algériennes".
First edition, uncommon, featuring at the end of the volume a folding genealogical table of the family of Muhammad (According to the CCF, copies are held only in Angers, Strasbourg, and Toulouse.)
A small pale water stain to the lower right corner of the first leaves, not affecting the text.
Bradel binding in half fawn cloth, flat spine decorated with a gilt fleuron and double gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen title label, marbled paper boards.
This is the major work of Jules-Charles Scholl (1850–1886), who lived in Bienne and Neuchâtel; it stands apart from his usual writings, which were largely focused on animal advocacy.
First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on alfal paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Fine copy, complete with the loose and folding map.
First edition, one of 100 copies numbered on Renage wove paper, the only deluxe issue.
Bound in burgundy half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands ruled in black, date gilt-stamped at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, gilt top edge.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Pur Fil du Marais, the only deluxe copies, alongside a few hors commerce also printed on Pur Fil du Marais.
A handsome and scarce copy of this anti-Gaullist pamphlet.
First edition, one of 110 copies printed on Arches wove paper, deluxe issue.
Handsome copy, untrimmed, illustrated with photographs.
Fine autograph inscription signed by Pierre Clostermann: "... en cordial hommage d'un \"chasseur\" des FADL qui maniait plus facilement son avion que la dédicace. Pierre Clostermann."
First edition, one of 275 numbered copies on Lana wove paper, the deluxe issue.
Illustrated with 31 hors-texte plates.
A fine, uncut copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.
First edition of this rare and sought-after work compiling, in a single volume, the main legislative and regulatory provisions from Year XIV to 1857, forming the specific legal code of the island (cf. Ryckebusch 6126).
Some light foxing, mostly at the beginning and end of the volume.
Contemporary full aubergine calf, spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt double fillets, slight rubbing to spine and boards, gilt roll-tooled head- and tailbands, boards framed with gilt triple and double fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dotted edges, marbled edges, contemporary binding.
First edition of this uncommon study of the major international diplomatic crisis provoked by Mehmed Ali's expansionist policy (cf. Carré I, 294; Blackmer 261; Atabey 179; Walch, 398; Hage Chahine, 748).
Some foxing, occasional reading marks in pencil and red pencil in the margins of certain paragraphs.
Late 19th-century Bradel bindings in half khaki percaline, flat spines decorated with a gilt fleuron, gilt double rules at foot of spines, black shagreen title-pieces, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, corners rubbed.
At the end of the first volume, the work is complete with the folding plate representing the Battle of Nezib.
Edmond de Cadalvène (1799–1852) served as embassy attaché, then as director of the French postal service in Alexandria, Smyrna, and later Constantinople; his knowledge of the Orient, and particularly Egypt, was vast and multifaceted. As for the Saint-Simonian Émile Barrault (1799–1869), he followed a more conventional political path: he travelled to Egypt to accompany Father Enfantin in his quest for the Woman and universal regeneration...
Very rare first edition, illustrated with a large folding lithographed map (cf. Sabin, 21 178 – Only two copies listed in the CCF: at the BnF and the Médiathèque du Quai Branly).
Contemporary full marbled yellow paper boards, flat spine with a cherry-red shagreen label, library shelf label pasted at the foot of the spine, red edges.
A small discoloured spot on the title page, a few light foxmarks.
The Federal Republic of Central America (Republica federal de Centroamérica) was short-lived: established in 1824 from the United Provinces of Central America, it was dissolved in November 1839 following the secession of its main constituent states. It comprised Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chiapas (now part of Mexico), and Los Altos (in 1838).
Rare first edition of the French translation (not recorded by Sabin or Cordier).
Contemporary half calf bindings, spines with four raised bands ruled in gilt and adorned with blind-stamped typographic ornaments and gilt fillets, gilt Greek-key rolls at foot, marbled paper boards showing some scuffing with losses to paper at a few corners, marbled edges.
Some foxing.
The Scottish naval officer Basil Hall [Edinburgh 1788 – Gosport 1844], son of geologist and antiquary Sir James Hall, undertook numerous voyages as a Royal Navy officer to the East Indies, the seas of China, Japan, and Korea, the coasts of South America, the United States, and Canada, publishing detailed and engaging travel accounts. "Korea had been sketchily explored by Europeans but it was not until the Alceste and Lyra expedition of 1816-17 under Captains Murray Maxwell and Basil Hall that detailed information was obtained about the Ryukyus" Hill.
A handsome copy, finely bound at the time of publication.
Provenance: two bookplates mounted on the pastedowns, including that of the Bourbon de Rouvre family.
Very rare first edition (cf Dunmore, p. 16. Ferguson, 225. Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 285. Gove, The Imaginary Voyage in Prose Fiction, pp. 397-8. Kroepelien, 283. McLaren, 269. Sabin, 38958. Missing from Negley, Utopian literature, and the Dictionary of literary utopias.)
Binding in full marbled calf, smooth spine adorned with compartments and floral gilt motifs, red morocco title label, gilt roulettes on the headbands (partially faded) and on the edges, binding of the period.
A tear with loss on the spine, small crack at the foot of one joint, rubbing on the joints, some foxing, a moisture stain on the first endpaper fading on the following pages, light halos at the foot of some pages.
The disappearance of La Pérouse caused great concern in France, and many writers used this mystery as the basis for utopias and fantastic tales about a possible survival of the crew in the South Seas.
A fictitious account. The greater portion is devoted to the description of a supposed island in the South Seas, inhabited by a community of refugees who had escaped the horrors of the French Revolution, and had established a republic there on socialist principles (Ferguson).
Davidson considers it a desirable addition either to a collection of La Pérouse items, or to a library of fictitious voyages.
The uncertainty regarding the publication date of this rare book (Ferguson, Sabin, and Kroepelien give 1795, while Gove and the Library of Congress catalog give 1798) was eventually resolved by the discovery of a contemporary advertisement by David Forbes confirming the first date.
First edition of this important and highly valuable collection, containing numerous official papers and documents (cf. Sabin 47547. Leclerc 763).
Bound in full marbled tan calf, spines with five raised bands, gilt garlands and richly gilt compartments, red shagreen title-pieces, brown shagreen volume labels, gilt tooling (now slightly faded) to the headcaps, panels framed with double blind fillets, gilt double fillets on the board edges, red edges, contemporary bindings.
Headcaps of volumes two and three shaved, corners bumped and worn, small holes and losses to the leather along the margins of the volumes.
Scattered light foxing, otherwise clean and fresh throughout.
Volume I contains the memoirs on Acadia and the island of Saint Lucia, with a large folding map inserted.
Volume II includes treaties and public acts relating to America in general, and supporting documents for the memoirs concerning the boundaries of Acadia.
Volume III is devoted to supporting documents relating to the ownership of the island of Saint Lucia.
As is often the case, the set lacks volume IV, which was published only in 1757.
The French negotiators were Mssrs. de Silhouette and de La Galissonnière, and for Britain, Mssrs. V. Shirlet and Wm. Mildmay; the failure of the negotiations was one of the contributing factors to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War.
First edition, illustrated with 39 full-page plates and numerous in-text vignettes (cf. Lorenz IX, 494).
Bradel binding in full brown buckram, smooth spine gilt-stamped with a floral tool, gilt double fillet at foot, green morocco label, modern binding signed by Lobstein-Laurenchet.
Some foxing, mostly to the first and last leaves.
A pleasant copy.
Very rare first edition illustrated with 4 maps and 2 plates out of text: map of Amsterdam Island, map of part of the northwest coast of America, of the northern mouth of Queen Charlotte Sound, plan of Bokerelle port on the northwest coast of America, sea wolves and sea lions (cf. Sabin 61001. Howes 7897. F. Monaghan 1174. Lada Mocarski 89. Gay 272. Ferguson 980. Hill 230. Borba de Moraes II, 663: "A description of Bahia appears in Vol. I").
Scattered foxing. Minor losses and rubbing to joints.
Contemporary full khaki green calf bindings, spines faded and decorated with raised false bands adorned with gilt garlands, dotted lines, and gilt rules, along with blind-stamped typographic motifs, cherry calf labels for title and volume numbers, joints restored, gilt roulettes on caps, gilt and blind garland borders on covers, gilt fillets on edges, marbled edges.
A naval officer, Pierre-François Péron was long involved in the fur trade between the northwest coast of America and China. He notably described parts of California (a journey to Monterey in 1796), Tasmania, New South Wales, Hawaii, and Sumatra. He provides highly valuable information on British Columbia and the Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands. According to Henry R. Wagner, Péron's full name (1769–1840) was Pierre François. He should not be confused with the explorer François-Auguste Péron (1775–1810).
A handsome copy preserved in a charming period romantic binding signed by Duplanil.
First edition, illustrated with portraits, views, and in-text plans (cf. Tailliart 1966).
Scattered light foxing.
Bound in half havana shagreen, spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt dotted fillets and compartments adorned with gilt decorative tools, marbled paper-covered boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge. Original wrappers and spines preserved, with small losses and some soiling.
Several chapters in the second volume are devoted to Medina and Mecca, including an account of the Wahhabis, a detailed description of the mosques of Medina and Mecca, pilgrimage rituals, etc. The author, a retired plenipotentiary minister and former chief interpreter to the Army of Africa, was the private secretary to Abd el-Kader: "Il fait un récit détaillé de son long séjour auprès de l'Emir, de la situation qui lui fut faite, de la confiance d'Abd-el-Kader en lui, de sa conversion à l'Islam, des persécutions dont il fut l'objet, de son emprisonnement à Tlemcen, du mariage avec une Mauresque que lui imposa l'Emir, enfin de son retour chez les Français. À nouveau des aventures singulières dans le pèlerinage qu'il fait à La Mecque en passant par la Tunisie et l'Égypte où il est chargé d'une mission politique : il courut les plus graves périls" [Tailliart].
First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
A pleasing copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Yves Coppens to Emile Noël.
First edition, complete with the 15 etched portraits by Jeanron.
At the beginning of the volume, the index listing the engraved portraits has been discreetly marked in pencil in the left margin beside each name.
Scattered light foxing.
Contemporary red half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands framed by double gilt fillets and broad black rules, some rubbing to the spine, marbled paper-covered boards faintly and very marginally faded, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, one split to an edge.
New edition, partly original as revised, of this study first published in 1858 in the Revue des Deux Mondes (Sabin 40127. Ryckebusch 5041).
Minor chips to the corners of the covers, some occasional foxing.
A member of one of the oldest families in Martinique, Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy (1809–1882) served as president of the Central Agency of Colonial Banks; he wrote extensively on West Indian issues and colonial ventures in South America.
Inscribed by the author Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy on the front free endpaper.
Rare first edition illustrated with an original frontispiece etching by Raoul Cordier, depicting an authentic portrait of Nasser-ed-Din.
Minor losses and tears to the soiled cover margins, with a larger marginal loss to the rear cover; clean and attractive internal condition.
The only edition of this biography written on the occasion of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar's (1831–1896) second European tour. He ruled Persia from 1848 until his death and was the first Persian monarch to visit the West. The reforms he introduced to the country ultimately led to his assassination by a fanatic.
Inscribed and signed by Edmond Dutemple to Monsieur Brunet, with date.
New edition, with mention of the print run.
Illustrated.
Two losses to the spine; complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which shows small chips and angular tears. One gathering poorly opened with minor marginal losses not affecting the text.
Bookplate affixed to the verso of the front cover.
Rare signed presentation inscription by Albert Schweitzer: "A monsieur et madame André Fontan en souvenir de leur passage à Lambarené le 2.6.1963, avec mes bonnes pensées. Albert Schweitzer."
First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
A pleasant copy despite two small creases at the foot of the front cover.
Inscribed and signed by Jean Favier to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme.
First edition printed in Marseille and illustrated with 20 steel engravings. Contemporary half hazel sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets. Gilt title and volume numbers. Spine slightly faded. Minor rubbing. A well-preserved copy, with only occasional light foxing.
"First edition, one of 1,500 copies printed on vellum paper, this one unnumbered.
A handsome copy.
Illustrated with a frontispiece by Jean Berque.
Exceptional full-page signed presentation inscription from Abel Bonnard to Hubert Lyautey, the first Resident-General of the French Protectorate in Morocco: "A monsieur le maréchal Lyautey, qui, marmi tant d'autres illustres, a aussi sauvé la beauté du Maroc. En respectueux hommage. Abel Bonnard."
First edition. Title pages with the printer's sphere device.
Contemporary full brown calf bindings. Spines with raised bands, gilt decoration, and brown calf lettering and volume labels. Minor split at the top of the upper joint on volume 3. Loss to the foot of volume 1. Rubbing to the bindings. In the first volume, pale waterstain to the opening leaves, reappearing sporadically at the foot or outer margins throughout.
Partly original edition, enlarged with 7 additional chapters; this is the first complete edition.
Contemporary full brown calf binding. Spine with raised bands, richly gilt. Red morocco label. Small loss to head of upper joint. Three corners slightly rubbed. A good copy.
Manuscript ex-libris on title page: Denille.
First edition.
Some foxing to spine and boards.
Precious dated and signed autograph inscription from Irène Delmas, president of the National Association of Former Female Deportees and Prisoners of the Resistance (ADIR): "A monsieur Massin avec l'amitié et la reconnaissance des Anciennes Déportées de la Résistance. IRDelmas Présidente de l'ADIR. Paris 13 Novembre 1957." (To Mr. Massin with the friendship and gratitude of the Former Female Deportees of the Resistance. IRDelmas President of ADIR. Paris 13 November 1957.)
Our copy is exceptionally enhanced with the signatures of several members of the editorial committee of the Association of Female Deportees and Prisoners of the Resistance or former deportees to Ravensbrück camp including: Geneviève Anthonioz De Gaulle and Catherine Goetschel-Franquinet.
Rare example of this propaganda leaflet published by the Nazi Occupier, which became the most iconic image of the Resistance. This smaller version of the famous Affiche Rouge features the poster on the recto and a paragraph on the verso castigating « l'Armée du crime contre la France » ("the Army of Crime against France"). It opens with accusations against the « rêve mondial du complot juif » ("the global dream of the Jewish conspiracy") and claims that « si des Français sabotent, pillent et tuent (...) ce sont toujours des juifs qui les inspirent » ("if Frenchmen sabotage, loot, and kill (...) it is always Jews who inspire them").
A discreet horizontal crease, otherwise superb condition for an ephemeral document.
Accompanied by the rare brochure entitled 'L'armée du crime' ('The army of crime') in the format of a newspaper illustrated with 14 pages of photographs.
A trace of horizontal fold. A fine copy.
First edition illustrated with photographic portraits.
Fragile dust jacket preserved, our copy is also complete with its soft red shagreen slipcase.
