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an image of a set of four books with gold medallions on them
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20 - LABAT (Jean-Baptiste).
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
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Description
LABAT (Jean-Baptiste). The Journey of Chevalier Des Marchais to Guinea, the neighbouring 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 paginated as 364, 9 plates, 3 maps and plans; (2) ff., 366 pp. incorrectly paginated as 350, 3 plates, 1 map; (2) ff., pp. 345–659, incorrectly paginated as 681, (18) ff., 1 map. Havana calfskin, gilded coat of arms in the centre of the covers, ribbed spine decorated with coats of arms, 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 formed part of 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. A tear, with no loss of material, on folio X5 in volume 3, affecting the text. Provenance: Duchess of Montmorency-Luxembourg, with her coat of arms on the covers. – Philippe-Louis de Bordes de Fortage, with bookplate.
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About the sale Claude Mozis Library – Black Africa and the African diaspora
Auction location
Auction time 10/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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