SONNERAT (Pierre). Voyage aux Indes Orientales et a la Chine - Lot 213

SONNERAT (Pierre). Voyage aux Indes Orientales et a la Chine, fait par ordre du Roi, depuis 1774 jusqu'en 1781, dans lequel on traite des moeurs, de la religion, des sciences et des arts des Indiens, des Chinois, des Pegouins, et des Madegasses ; suivi d'Observations sur le Cap de Bonne-Espérance, les Isles de France et de Bourbon, les Maldives, Ceylan, Malacca, les Philippines et les Moluques Par M. Sonnerat, Commissaire de la Marine, Naturaliste Pensionnaire du Roi. A Paris, Chez l'Auteur, chez Froule, chez Nyon, chez Barrois, 1782. 3 vols. large In-8, XXII-(2)-340 p. + (6)-376 p. + (6)-362 p., contemporary mottled havana calf, ornate ribbed spines, red and green morocco title-pieces, cold fillet framing the boards, red edges, restorations (one plate a little browned). A fine, wide-margined copy of the in-8° edition published the same year as the original in-4 edition. This edition is illustrated with 7 folding plates engraved by Jean-Baptiste Marie Poisson after drawings by Sonnerat: Plan de Pondichéry; Chauderie et Pagotin; Temple ou pagode des gentils; Fête de Teroton; Vue de la ville de Canton; Caffres; Hottentots. Pierre Sonnerat (1748-1814) was born in Lyon and began his career as a draftsman in the manufacturing industry. After moving to Paris, he left France at the age of twenty to join his godfather, botanist Pierre Poivre, on what is now Mauritius. Sonnerat carried out various missions and travelled to Madagascar, the Cape of Good Hope, the Philippines and the Moluccas, as far as New Guinea. As a true naturalist, he observed, described and drew many animal and plant species. In 1774, Sonnerat had been appointed deputy commissioner of the Navy by Turgot, and the king asked him to continue his research on India, Malaysia and China, and to observe, collect and describe the fauna, flora and inhabitants of the countries he visited. Pleasant copy, with wide margins. (Cordier, III, 2101).