Voyage à la nouvelle Guinée. 1776

SONNERAT, Pierre (1748-1814). Voyage à la nouvelle Guinée, dans lequel on trouve la description des lieux, des observations physiques & morales, & des détails relatifs à l'histoire naturelle dans le regne animal & le regne vegetal. Paris: Ruault, 1776.

A fine copy of the first edition of Sonnerat’s first major publication. During his travels in Asia, mainly to the Philippines and the Moluccas, Sonnerat accumulated an extensive botanical and zoological collection. Of the 119 finely engraved illustrations, 79 depict exotic birds encountered on his voyages, including one of the earliest representations of the Australian Kookaburra. Nissen IVB 885.

Quarto (248 x 189mm). Engraved frontispiece and 118 plates with one plate numbered as two: 90-91, woodcut title vignette, head-and tailpieces, initials (pp.191-194 lightly speckled). Contemporary marbled calf, triple fillet border on sides, spine gilt with deer, floral and foliate motifs, morocco spine label (some slightly scratches).

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