Voyages dans le Bélouchistan et le Sindhy, suivis de la description géographique et historique de ces deux pays, avec une carte. Par Henry Pottinger, Lieutenant au service de la Compagnie des Indes, Adjoint du Résident à la Cour de Son Altesse le Peichouà, et employé précédemment dans des missions en Perse et au Sindhy

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.