SYMES (Michael). Relation de l'ambassade anglaise envoyée en - Lot 217

SYMES (Michael). Relation de l'ambassade anglaise envoyée en 1795 dans le royaume d'Ava, ou l'Empire des Birmans, par le major Michel Symes, chargé de cette Ambassade. Suivie d'un Voyage fait, en 1798, à Colombo, dans l'Ile de Ceylan, et à la Baie de Da Lagoa, sur la côte orientale de l'Afrique ; de la Description de l'Ile de Carnicobar et des Ruines de Mavalipouram Paris, Buisson, 1800. 3 volumes In-8, (4)-VII-(1)-380 p. + (4)-396 p. + (4)-318 p. + 1 large atlas In-folio, (4) p. (title and list of plates), 2 folding maps, 28 plates, contemporary marbled fawn calf, red and green titles and gilt framing friezes and fillet, and for the atlas contemporary havana half calf with corners, smooth spine decorated, green morocco title-pieces (minor defects, including worm tract on a spine, a dull corner and cap, marg. wetness at the head of t.3 Atlas: uncovered headpieces, spines partly split, brown spots and stains, clumsy repairs to one large plate, red marks on one map). First major European report on Burma by Captain Michael Symes (1761-1809), who went to the Ava court to negotiate a trade agreement on behalf of England, which led to the establishment of a British residence in Rangoon, and to try to convince the king to cease all trade relations with France. The first French edition by Castéra, published the same year as the English original, entitled "An Account of an Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava sent by the Governal-General of India in 1795". The atlas contains 30 plates numbered I-XXX, drawn "on the spot under the eyes of the ambassador" and engraved by Tardieu, Delignon, Delvaux, Beaublé, Niquet, Giraud l'aîné, including 8 botanical plates showing the rare plants of the country, and 2 maps, including a large fold-out map of the Irraquaddy or great river of Ava. (Cordier, Indosinica I, 447; Gay, 3188).