Travels - Lot 509

Travels LA MOTROYE (Aubry de) Voyages of Sieur A. de La Motraye in Europe, Asia & Africa. Où l'on trouve une grande variété de recherches géographiques, historiques et politiques, sur l'Italie, la Grèce, la Turquie, la Tartarie, Crimée, & Nogaye, la Circassie, la Suède, la Laponie, etc., in The Hague, Johnson & Van Duren. The Hague, Johnson & Van Duren, 1727. (Followed by) Voyages en Anglais et en Français d'A. de La Motraye en diverses provinces et places de la Prusse ducale et royale, de la Russie, de la Pologne &c. contenant un traité de divers Ordres de chevalerie The Hague, Moetjens; London, Round & Meighan; Dublin, Grierson & Bradley, 1732. 3 volumes in folio: 8f, 15pp, 472pp, 23pp, 1f / 4f, 496pp, 39pp / 6f, 480pp; illustrated with 3 allegorical frontispieces and 60 plates (32/19/7), many of them folding, by Smith, Hogarth, Lockley, Vertue, 12 featuring maps or plans by Federico Ern. Fabrice, Roberto Suitton, Gotheburgi Bahus II and Mastrand, or Johanni Noris. One folding plate in volume I is missing a flap. Contemporary grained fawn calf, spine ribbed and decorated, red title-pieces, fawn end-pieces, a split jaw in volume I, headpieces stretched, wear defects, gilt roulette on the edges, corners dulled, red edges. First French edition of this important voyage by Aubry de la Mottraye to Europe, Asia and Africa. "In his travels, La Mottraye focuses on habits and customs, and delivers a large number of curious anecdotes". Beautiful engravings out of text by William Hogarth, drawn with talent and originality, depicting scenes of manners, characters, costumes and various monuments with elegance and movement. Provenances: Printed bookplate and wet stamps from the library of François Michel César Le Tellier (1718-1781), Marquis de Courtenvaux et de Montmirail, Comte de Tonnerre, also known as the Marquis de Courtenvaux; man of war and scholar. He fought in the Bavarian and Bohemian campaigns, became captain-colonel of the Cent Suisses and first-class grand d'Espagne. He went on to study the natural sciences, and was appointed a member of the Académie des Sciences. He also invented scientific instruments. One of the most remarkable libraries of his time. Printed bookplate Octave A4514 in La Réole.