POIVRE (Pierre). Voyages of a philosopher. Paris, De l'Impri - Lot 178

POIVRE (Pierre). Voyages of a philosopher. Paris, De l'Imprimerie de Hautbout, 1797. In-8, LXXXVIII-195-(1) p., half blond basane circa 1800, smooth spine decorated, red title page (tail cap worn, browning, frontispiece lacking). Partly first edition. Pierre Poivre (1719-1786), traveler and naturalist, became intendant of the islands of France and Bourbon in 1767, where he developed the cultivation of fine spices imported from India and the Moluccas; above all, he eased the lot of slaves and put an end to the excesses of the slave trade. The work contains the author's observations on the customs and arts of the peoples of Africa, Asia and America, and provides an overview of agriculture in Asia and Africa. Provenance: Charles de Beaurepaire (19th c. bookplate). (Sabin, 63719).