Burma - Lot 703

Burma SYMES (Michel) Relation de l'Ambassade anglaise, envoyée en 1795 dans le Royaume d'Ava, ou l'Empire des Birmans, par le major Michel Symes (...) traduits de l'anglais avec des notes, par J. Castéra. Paris, Buisson, an IX (1800). 3 volumes in-8 (text) and one volume in-4 (atlas) consisting of 2f. (list of plates) and 30 intaglio plates (numbered I-XXX) by J. B. P. Tardieu, (including a large fold-out map of the Irraouaddy or Airabatty). Light half-mark at bottom corner. Contemporary fawn shagreened basane, rubbed ornamented smooth spines, red title-pieces, black end-pieces, 3 damaged headpieces, jaws rubbed and sometimes cracked at the entrances, gilt fillet on the edges, bumping on two edges, dull corners, red edges. First French edition by Castéra, published the same year as the English original, of this account of Burma by Captain Michael Symes, who went to the Ava court to negotiate a trade agreement for England. Contents of the atlas: General map of the Burmese Empire - Map of the course of the Irraouaddy or Great River of Ava - Temple of Schoe-Madou - Horizontal plan of the Temple of Schoe-Madou - Rhahaan or Burmese priest - Footprint of Gaudma - Statue of Boudh at Gaya - A Woungée, or member of the Council of State, with his Wife, both in ceremonial dress - An Attawounn and his Wife, both in ceremonial dress - A Burmese peasant and his wife - Cassayer rider - Burmese, Sanskrit and Pali alphabets - How to catch wild elephants in the forests of the Kingdom of Ava - Statue of Gaudma in the Temple of Ummerapoura - Kioum or Monastery of Rhanhaana - View of the Court of Ummerapoura, at the time of the reception of the English Ambassador - Schoe-Paun-Dogée or ceremonial yacht of the Burmese Emperor - Warboat - A Montagnard and his Wife, de la Tibu des Kains - Taliacannaeformis - Gardeniacoronaria - Pontederiadilatata - Bauhinia diphylla - Sonneratiaapetala - Epidendrum moschatum - Agynejacoccinea - Heriteriafomes - Habitans of the southern bank of the Matumo River - Naturals of the northern bank of the Mafumo, in their war dress.