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an old black and white drawing of a waterfall in the mountains
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53 - HECQUARD (Hyacinte Louis).
See original version (French)

Estimate €300 - €400
Sale commission
Description
HECQUARD (Hyacinte Louis). A Journey along the Coast and into the Interior of West Africa. Paris: Bénard and Company, 1853. — Large 8vo, 263 x 178: frontispiece, (2 leaves), 409 pp., 3 maps, 1 plan, 3 plates. Half-shagreen in tan, ribbed spine, speckled head, untrimmed (modern binding). A rare first edition of this account by Hyacinthe Louis Hecquard (1814–1866), explorer and lieutenant of the Spahis in Senegal. The book recounts his perilous 19-month journey (1850–1851) across West Africa. Setting out from Grand-Bassam, then from Sédhiou (Cazamance), he explored regions then unknown to Europeans, such as Fouta-Dialon, Haut-Cabou and Kolli, and reached the sources of the Senegal, Gambia, Falémé and Rio-Grande rivers. Thanks to the protection of the almami of Fouta-Dialon, he was able to spend a considerable amount of time amongst the local populations, which enabled him to study their customs, customs and institutions with unprecedented precision, whereas his predecessors, such as Mollien and Caillé, had been forced to travel quickly and discreetly. He also collected samples (geological, mineralogical and botanical) for subsequent scientific analysis and measured latitudes using rudimentary methods. His sincere and accurate account highlights the changes that had taken place since previous expeditions, whilst emphasising the natural, political and human obstacles encountered during his exploration. The edition is illustrated with four beautiful original lithographs (separate from the text: ‘View of the French settlement at Grand Bassam’, ‘Kambagaga Falls, Kokoula River (Fouta-Dialon)’, ‘View of Timbo, capital of Fouta Dialon’, ‘Omar, son of Abd-El-Kader, and his favourite wife, Sciouto’), a map of George Town, also lithographed, and three fold-out maps: ‘Sketch of the course of the Grand Bassam and Assinie rivers’, ‘Sketch of the course of the Cazamance’ and ‘Sketch of part of West Africa’. A fine copy in a modern binding. Restoration to the upper corner of the half-title page, following the removal of a handwritten provenance note, and to the upper corner of the folio comprising pages 245–246, affecting the pagination.
See original version (French)
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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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