Voyage et avantures de François Leguat, & de ses compagnons, en deux isles desertes des Indes orientales [...]. Le tout enrichi de cartes et de figures.

2 vol., 12mo: [14 front. incl.]-xxx-164, [4 front. incl.]-180-[34] pp.; 32 pl. (soiling, substantial in vol. II, occ. in vol. I, occ. pl. or pp. sl. age-toned, some foxing).

Contemp. mottled sheep, gilt-orn. spines with raised bands with mod. labels, spr. edges (joints, edges and corners repaired, joints split, head and tail missing, corners bumped, sl. rubbing, flyleaves renewed).

Rare first edition of the travels of the French explorer and naturalist Fr. Leguat (1638-1735). Illustrated with 2 front. (repeated), an arm. headpiece and 32 plates a.o. fold. maps ("Carte de l'Isle de Djego-Ruys", "Isle de Bourbon apellée Mascarenas") and plates showing "un singe extraordinaire", rhinoceroses, Hottentots and endemic species now extinct. Leguat settled as part of a small group of French protestant refugees on the uninhabited island of Rodrigues. After two years they escaped to Mauritius from where they arrived back in Europe in 1698. His adventures are noted for the observations on natural history of the now extinct fauna of Rodrigues.
Ref. Chadenat 1150 & 1653. - Gay 3031.