1 / 2
Description
DEMANET (Abbé).
A New History of French Africa.
Paris: Veuve Duchêne et Lacombe, 1767. — 2 volumes in-12, 167 x 98: (4 ff.), xxx pp., (1 f.), 266 pp. incorrectly paginated 142, 3 maps; (4 ff.), 352 pp., (2 ff.). Marbled calfskin, plain spine with decoration, red edges (contemporary binding).
First edition.
As a missionary in Africa, Abbé Demanet saw the continent first and foremost as an inexhaustible source of riches: ‘Africa opens her bosom to us, so that we may draw from it, as from an inexhaustible spring, immense riches. ’ His work, enriched with astronomical, geographical and ethnographic observations, provides a detailed account of the trade of the time: iron, gunpowder, weapons, brandy, gum, gold, timber, ivory… and ‘captives’.
Without a second thought, he discusses the slave trade, which he himself engaged in by trading captives for a fortune on the River Gambia. He concludes as follows:
‘Present-day French Africa can produce annually […] five thousand captives […] who will cost no more than 110 livres each; from which one can see the immense profit to be made from this branch of trade. ”
His work, often cited in debates on slavery in the 18th century, featured among the references used by anti-slavery activists (such as Abbé Grégoire)… but also by defenders of the slave trade, who drew economic arguments from it.
The edition is illustrated with three engravings that unfold: First Division of French Africa (sic) from Cap Blanc to Senegal. – Second Division of French Africa from Senegal to Cape Verga. – Third Division.
A fine copy in a contemporary binding, from the library of the engraver, engineer-geographer, publisher and map dealer Jean-Claude Dezauche (1745–1829).
Some foxing and discolouration.
Provenance:
Jean-Claude Dezauche, with bookplate.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Claude Mozis Library – Black Africa and the African diaspora
Auction location
Auction time
10/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Lot description modified on 10/02/2026 at 9:44 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like