Abbé PRÉVOST, Antoine François d'Exiles. - Lot 75

Abbé PRÉVOST, Antoine François d'Exiles. Histoire générale des voyages, ou Nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyages par mer et par terre [...]. A Paris, chez Didot, 1746-1753. 74 volumes in-12. Contemporary marbled fawn calf, ornate ribbed spine, red title page, gilt title, red edges (some wear and tear throughout, volumes 49, 59, 77, 78, 79 and 80 lacking). Rare set also complete with Abbé Prévost's other famous text. With engraved portrait of the author as frontispiece to volume I. Contains hundreds of black copper engravings: maps and plates, most of them folding, distributed throughout the volumes, showing views, scenes of daily life, flora and fauna... First edition in in-12 format, published simultaneously with the first edition (in 20 in-4 volumes). Continued publication until it reached 80 volumes in 1789. Encyclopedic research work by the author, who is also credited with disseminating numerous unpublished accounts of the Dutch discovery of Australia and voyages across the Pacific, notably those of Magellan and Schouten. The work is accompanied by nearly 300 illustrations of peoples, landscapes and customs from around the world, and over 100 magnificent maps by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. Brunet IV, 868 (several editions).