LABAT (Jean-Baptiste). - Lot 20

LABAT (Jean-Baptiste). The Journey of Chevalier Des Marchais to Guinea, the Neighboring Islands, and Cayenne, Undertaken in 1725, 1726, and 1727. Containing a very accurate and comprehensive description of these countries and the trade conducted there. Paris: Pierre Prault and Saugrain, 1730. — 4 volumes in-12, 162 x 95: frontispiece, xxiv pp., 391 pp. incorrectly paginated as 381, (1 f.), 11 plates, 3 maps and plans; (2 ff.), 366 pp. incorrectly numbered 364, 9 plates, 3 maps and plans; (2) ff., 366 pp. incorrectly numbered 350, 3 plates, 1 map; (2) ff., pp. 345–659, incorrectly numbered 681, (18) ff., 1 map. Havana calfskin, gilded coat of arms in the center of the covers, ribbed spine decorated with heraldic motifs, red edges (contemporary binding). First edition of Labat’s second work devoted to the coasts of West Africa, based on the original memoirs of Chevalier Renaud Des Marchais (16..–1728), a representative of the French Guinea Company, of great ethnographic and historical interest. The final volume contains an interesting abridged grammar in French and in the language of the “Nègres de Judas,” as well as the complete version of the Code Noir. The illustrations consist of a frontispiece, 6 fold-out maps and plans, and 25 plates, 22 of which are fold-outs. A copy bearing the coat of arms of Marie-Sophie-Émilie-Honorate Colbert de Seignelay, Duchess of Montmorency-Luxembourg (1711–1747), daughter of Marie-Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis of Seignelay, Count of Tancarville, and Marie-Louise-Maurice de Furstenberg. She married Charles-Antoine-Frédéric de Montmorency, Duke of Luxembourg, in 1724. It subsequently appeared in the library of the Bordeaux bibliophile Philippe-Louis Bordes de Fortage (1846–1924). Skillfully restored bindings. Slight loss at the hinge of the front cover of Volume 1. Scuffing on the front cover of the last volume. Three worn corners. Tear without loss on folio X5 in Volume 3, with damage to the text. Provenance: Duchess of Montmorency-Luxembourg, with her coat of arms on the covers. - Philippe-Louis de Bordes de Fortage, with bookplate.