Voyage dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique, par le cap de Bonne-Espérance

LEVAILLANT, François. Voyage dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique, par le cap de Bonne-Espérance.
Paris: Desray, An VI [1798].

[Followed by:]
— Second voyage dans l’intérieur de l’Afrique.
Paris: Crapelet, An XI [1803].

Octavo (216 x 137 mm), 2 volumes [Voyage dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique], T1 - XXXII-383 pp., (1) f., T2 - (2) ff., 403 pp., (1) f., [suivi de 3 volumes du Second Voyage :] T1 - (1) f., XLIV-341 pp., (1) f., T2 - (3) ff., 412 pp., (1) f., T3 - (3) ff., 467 pp., (1) f.
Full red morocco, covers with triple gilt fillet borders and a central double fillet panel with Duseuil-style cornerpieces, spines gilt in compartments with false bands, richly gilt tools, gilt lettering (author, title, date, and place), gilt edges, decorative gilt turn-ins; by Bozérian le Jeune.

Exceptional large-paper copies, of great rarity, with all plates in double state.

These two important voyages — the authorship of which is generally attributed to Casimir Varon (1761–1796) — are usually found together (Brunet). Some critics, however, consider that Varon was responsible only in part for the text, arguing that, born in Surinam, he did not fully command the French language. The two expeditions in southern Africa allowed Le Vaillant to assemble zoological and botanical specimens, and it is during these journeys that he carried out most of the scientific work later incorporated into his Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d’Afrique.

The illustrations include topographical views (notably scenes of Le Vaillant’s encampments), ethnographic plates (two of Hottentots and others depicting indigenous peoples), and natural history subjects (birds, hippopotamuses, giraffes, wolves, jellyfish).

The five volumes are illustrated with 42 engraved plates, both in black and with colour, 12 folding, together with a large folding engraved map of southern Africa, with a small marginal tear. The first voyage contains 20 plates depicting indigenous peoples, flora, fauna, and African landscapes including many of Le Vaillant’s camp scenes; eight of these plates were not included in the original 1790 edition. The second voyage is illustrated with a large folding map and 22 plates.

A superb set, in a fine contemporary binding by Bozérian le Jeune, nonetheless with foxing and some rubbing to the binding.

References: Mendelssohn I, 892; Brunet III, 1034.