Africa - Lot 465

Africa BORY DE ST-VINCENT (Jean Baptiste Geneviève Marcellin) baron Voyage dans les quatre principales îles des mers d'Afrique, fait par ordre du gouvernement, pendant l'année neuf et dix de la République (1801 et 1802), Avec l'histoire de la traversée du Capitaine Baudin jusqu'au Port-Louis de l'île Maurice Paris, Buisson, an XIII (1804). 3 volumes in-8 and one atlas large in-4; 56/58 plates and maps (numbered I- LVI and plates XIV bis, XXIII bis), mostly folding, drawn by the author, and engraved in intaglio, one of which enhanced in color. The lower part of plate IX, plate X and plate XXXI are missing. Very fine map of Reunion, a second of Reunion and the "Île de France". ½ period fawn morocco basane, decorated smooth spines slightly sunned, wormholes on the spines, marbled edges. Boards worn, spine missing. First edition with the atlas incomplete with 2 plates. The views and maps feature islands (including Reunion Island and Ile de France (Mauritius), landscape sections, volcanoes, rivers, craters, waterfalls, botany and zoology). A geographer and naturalist, Bory de Saint-Vincent was interested in volcanology and biology, and in this work he gives the first scientific description of Piton de la Fournaise, the active volcano on Reunion Island, one of whose two craters is called the Bory Crater.