DU TERTRE (Jean-Baptiste). - Lot 54

Lot n° 54
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8000 - 10000 EUR
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Result : 6 572EUR
DU TERTRE (Jean-Baptiste). - Lot 54
DU TERTRE (Jean-Baptiste). General History of the West Indies. Paris Thomas Jolly, 1667-71. Four volumes in-4, from (10) ff, 593, (3) pp.; (8) ff, 539 pp.; (8) ff, 317 pp., (4) ff; (3) ff, 362 pp., (7) ff, two frontispices, two plates of arms (on three), five maps and 18 plates including nine folders, contemporary brown speckled calf binding, spine decorated, speckled edges. Second edition, considerably enlarged, the best and most sought-after edition of this famous work, "the first source of the history of the West Indies" (Dampierre). Father Du Tertre, a Dominican, lived eighteen years in the Antilles, a stay interspersed with trips to France. A first edition of his very succinct book was published in 1654. He would later explain that he was obliged to publish it hastily for fear of a pirate edition, his manuscript having been stolen from him, a theft of which he accused Charles de Rochefort, himself the author of a Histoire naturelle et morale des Antilles published in 1659. Rare and complete of all his plates, two frontispieces, three plates of coats of arms and 23 maps and plates without text. Only the coat of arms plate of the dedicatee in volume III is missing here, but the illustration relating to the West Indies appears in its entirety, including the figure of the naked couple (volume II), which is often absent (copies Leclerc and Chadenat). Very good copy. Mention handwritten on a leaf of guard (volume III): "This book belongs to me. [signed] Messenger. Given to Brother A. Ginnolé Challan (?) for the library of the minimes of the Place Royale. 1714 ». Stamp of the Bibliothèque des Minimes on the titles of the first three volumes. Some skilful restorations to the bindings. Volume IV in identical binding but with a different fleuron on the spine. Slight scattered foxing on this volume only. Leclerc, 1314; Sabin, 21458, which describes only 13 plates; Chadenat, 2866; Picot, cat. Rothschild, 1984.
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