| |
|
|
|
|
|
Catalogue
78
Voyages
& Travels
History
& Natural History
Science & Technology
|
|
|
|
|
76.
QUENSEL, CONRAD (1767-1806). Svensk Zoologi, eller Svenska
Djurens Historia med illuminerade Figurer. Stockholm, Tryckt hos
Carl Delen, 1806. Första bandet, Häftet Nos. I & 2,
parts 1-12 only. $300
8vo; [Häftet No. 1, nos. 1-6]: pp. 06, viii, 10, 04, 08, 06,
12, 06; [Häftet No. 2, nos. 7-12]: pp. 11-16, 5-10, 9-15, 7-10.
13-22, 7-14. Erratic pagination, but corresponds to collation of
first two häftets of the copy at National Library of Sweden.
Later half roan over marbled boards, worn, with notation on front;
text loose in covers; spine worn, especially at head and heel; few
stains on title of Häftet No. 1; stamp on title of Häftet
No. 2; ownership signature on both titles; paper wrappers for each
Häftet are included, age-browned; title on front and publisher's
adverts on rear. Issued in parts; 11 of 12 hand-coloured engravings
by Johan Wilhelm Palmstruch (1770-1811) and Carl Wilhelm Fröberg
Venus (1770-1851); publication date from colophon. Wanting plate
for Häftet No. 2, part 8.
National Library of Sweden. This scarce work on the animals of Sweden
was originally issued in two volumes, Häftet Nos. 1-12, each
häftet containing six parts, with one plate per part, for a
total of 72 plates. We have Häftet No. 1 and 2 of volume one,
illustrated with 11 of 12 plates. Originally edited by Gustaf Johan
Billberg (1772-1844), the descriptive text was written by naturalist
Conrad Quensel for Häftet No. 1 and continued after his death
by Swedish botanist Olof Peter Swartz (1760-1818), famous as the
first taxonomist of orchids. The text for Häftet No. 12 was
written by Johan Wilhelm Dalman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77. RAFFLES, Sir THOMAS STAMFORD. The History of Java. London,
Parbury, Allen and Murray, 1817. Two volumes. First edition. $10,500
4to; f, pp. [v]-xvi, xix-xlviii, 479, [1]; f, pp. [v]-vi, 22, [4],
cclx (Appendix); nine engraved vignettes in the text, one large,
folding map, and 66 line and aquatint engravings (10 coloured and
one folding); wanting two folding tables, plate lists and half-titles;
some sporadic foxing of text and some uncoloured plates; coloured
plates are exceptionally clean; nineteenth-century ornately-gilt
full calf, sympathetically rebacked; marbled endpapers and fore-edges;
armorial bookplates; overall, a very good copy of this scarce first
edition.
Abbey Travel 554; Tooley 391. Raffles (1781-1826) was an administrator
and founder of Singapore. He went to work for the East India Company
and, in 1808, moved from Penang to Malacca for health reasons. His
reputation was established when a report he drew up pertaining to
the importance of Malacca caused the East India Company to reverse
its decision to evacuate it, and Lord Minto was sufficiently impressed
to retain Raffles as agent for the Malay States. Raffles was appointed
lieutenant-governor of Java in 1811 and remained there until 1816,
setting an example of good government. Upon his departure hegemony
returned to the Dutch, who endeavoured to establish complete control
over the archipelago and to oust British trade. Raffles managed
to bring a small portion of the area under British control by establishing
the "city-state" of Singapore. This work is particularly
lovely, the illustrations giving detailed descriptions of tools,
weapons, knives, musical instruments, native alphabets, inscriptions,
temples, landscapes, and people. The last-mentioned are depicted
in beautiful coloured costume plates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78.
RALEGH, WALTER. The Discoverie of the Large, Rich, and Bevvtiful
Empyre of Guiana, ... 1596;
[bound with]:
GALVÃO, ANTONIO. The Discoveries of the World ...
1601. Cleveland, World Publishing, 1966. $225
Square 8vo; pp. (16), 112, f; pp. (12), 97, (1); full vellum binding
with cloth ties; gilt arms of Elizabeth I on front cover; with 20-pp.
pamphlet of notes published with it; in original fall-down-back
box. A mint copy.
Hill, pp. 119 and 247. These are facsimiles of two important works,
printed in Italy in 1966. The pamphlet contains historical introductions
by A. L. Rowse, noted historian, and bibliographical notes by Robert
O. Dougan, then librarian of the Huntington Library. The facsimile
of Ralegh is taken from one of the issues of the first edition;
that of Galvão is from Richard Hakluyt's revision of an English
translation of the first edition, published in Portugal in 1563.
A very good work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79.
RAMEL, [JEAN-PIERRE], General (1768-1815). Narrative of the
Deportation to Cayenne, of Barthélemy, Pichgru, Willot, Marbois,
La Rue, Ramel, &c. &c. in consequence of The Revolution
of the 18th Fructidor, (September 4, 1797) containing a variety
of important facts relative to that revolution, and to the voyage,
residence, and escape of Barthélemy, Pichegru, &c. &c.
From the French of General Ramel, Commandant of the Legislative
Body Guard. London, Printed for J. Wright, 1799. First edition in
English. $575
8vo; pp. [4], 215; recent half-calf and marbled paper over boards;
complete with half-title; generally age-toned throughout, with some
sporadic light soiling; contemporary signature of "John Jardine"
on half-title and notation on first blank.
Cundall, West Indies, 1758; Sabin 67630. An account of a group of
Royalists exiled after the Revolution to Cayenne in French Guiana.
The work is a description of their travails, and of their escape
to Paramaribo, Berbice and Demerary, where they found passage on
a ship that took them to England.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80.
ROBERTSON, J[OHN] P[ARISH] & W[ILLIAM] P[ARISH]. Letters
on Paraguay: comprising an account of a four years' residence in
that republic, under the government of The Dictator Francia. London,
John Murray, 1838. Two volumes. First edition. $800
8vo; pp. xxvii, [1] (Errata), 359, [1]; pp. x, f (Blank), pp. 342,
[1]; one engraved frontispiece portrait (vol. I), one engraved frontispiece
(vol. II), and one folding engraved map, coloured in outline; later
cloth, morocco label on each spine; minimal light sporadic foxing;
a very good, untrimmed copy of an interesting work.
Borba de Moraes II, p. 740. José Gaspar Rodríquez
Francia (c.1766-1840), dictator of Paraguay and known as "El
Supremo", filled several important posts under the colonial
government and, when independence was declared in 1811, became secretary
to the national junta. In 1814 he was elected as dictator for a
three-year term which, in 1817, became a life term. Realising that
he had to make his country self-supporting, he undertook several
measures, many of which were controversial. He pursued a policy
of strict isolation, fostered internal industries, ceased foreign
commerce, usurped the national revenues, organised and equipped
an army, and brought in modern methods of agriculture. In addition,
influenced by the French Revolution, he abolished the rights of
the aristocracy, abolished the Inquisition, and suppressed the theological
colleges. Many of his policies were without doubt considered to
be draconian, and the two authors of this work, Scotsmen whose hopes
of commercial success had been rudely dashed by Francia's interference
and despotic policies, understandably give a most unfavourable and
vituperative account of his character and his government.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
