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an old book with a drawing of a woman ' s face on ittwo books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacetwo old books sitting on top of each other on a tablean old book that is open on a white surfacean old book with a picture of a man in a military uniforman old map of the british and irish islands on a piece of papera map of the british island of guernsey on a piece of papera map of the philippines on a piece of papertwo old books that are open on a white surfacetwo old books sitting on a table next to each othertwo old books sitting on a table next to each othera drawing of a knife and a pair of shoes on a tablea black and white drawing of a decorative object on a piece of paperan open book with a picture of a village in the backgroundan old book with a drawing of a village in the middle of itan old book that is open on a tablean old book with a picture of a man in a suit
KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE

165 - KEATE (George). WILSON (Henry). An Account of the Pelew Isla…
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Estimate €300 - €400
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Description
KEATE (George). WILSON (Henry). An Account of the Pelew Islands, situated in the western part of the Pacific Ocean; based on the journals and accounts of Captain Henri Wilson and some of his officers, who, in August 1783, were shipwrecked there aboard the Antelope, a vessel of the East India Company. A fascinating account of ethnographic exploration during the Age of Enlightenment, praised by Mirabeau. Paris, published by Maradan, 1793. 2 vols. in-8 (189 x 128 mm). Full tan calfskin, triple fillet edging on the covers, smooth spines adorned with mosaic panels and rich decoration in small gilt ironwork, all edges gilt. Contemporary bindings. [4]-280 pp., [9] plates including 7 folding plates; [4]-272 pp., [8] plates including 6 folding plates. Minor flaws to the bindings. Interior fresh, some signs of handling; in volume 1, stains on pp. 164–165. The plate of the view of Oroolong has been restored on the reverse. Second edition of the French translation of Captain Wilson’s (1740–1810) famous account of the Palau Islands. Translated by George Keate (1729–1797) and revised by the great orator of the early Revolution, the Comte de Mirabeau (1749–1791). The original English text dates from 1788. The fine illustrations comprise 17 engraved plates, including 13 fold-outs. The first volume opens with a frontispiece portrait of Captain Wilson, engraved by Mme Massard, and contains a portrait of the King of Pelew and seven other folded plates, including the large map. The second volume contains two portraits: that of Prince Lee Boo, engraved by Mlle Jouan, and that of Ludee, one of Abba Thulle’s wives, engraved by Madame de Gouy; as well as six folded plates (views and ethnographic objects). These volumes recount the shipwreck of the East India Company vessel, The Antelope, in the Palau archipelago in Micronesia, which occurred in 1783. After some initial hostility, Captain Wilson befriended the inhabitants, under the leadership of King Abba Thulle. When his ship was rebuilt, he returned to Britain with Thulle’s second son, Prince Lee Boo. Lee Boo was, in fact, one of the first Oceanic people to visit England. The work includes, at the end, a French-Palauan glossary (vol. 2, pp. [251]–267). A very fine copy in a contemporary binding.
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About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
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Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
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