Voyage en Nubie et en Abyssinie, entrepris pour découvrir les sources du Nil [...]. Traduit de l'anglais, par M. Castera.

5 vol., 4to: [4]-viii-lxxxiii-[1]-620, [4]-784, [4]-858, [4]-752, [4]-328-clxiii-[3] pp.; 88 pl. (foxing and some spotting, occ. sl. marg. damp stains, some ff. sl. age-toned, some marg. tears strengthened in vol. II and III).

Contemp. marbled calf, covers ruled with a gilt orn. frame, gilt orn. spines with raised bands, red edges (some joints splitting). Nice binding, in good condition.

Rare first French edition of "Travels to discover the source of the Nile [...]" (1st Edinburgh 1790) by the Scottish explorer James Bruce (1730-1794), translated by Jean Henri Castera (1749-1838). Complete with 88 engr. plates by Benard: 4 folding maps ("Carte ou est tracée la route qui tenoient les Flottes de Salomon", "Carte ou sont tracées les routes de M. Bruce", "Carte du Golfe d'Arabie", "Carte de l'extremité Méridionale de l'Afrique"), 19 double-page ill., 7 plates of Ethiopian text and 58 full-page plates. The illustrations depict various species of plants (e.g. "cyperus papyrus", "mimosa sassa", "fleurs de cusso"), animals (e.g. rhinoceros, hyena, turtle, snake, giraffe), scenes of village life and natives ("Hottentots"). 4 vol. with engr. vign. on title.
Ref. Cox I:388-389. - Gay 44. - Brunet I:1283. - Pritzel 1256. - BnF. - COPAC.
Prov. Luyken Landfort (armorial bookpl.). - Stamp on titles.