QUESNÉ, Jacques Salbigoton - Lot 134

QUESNÉ, Jacques Salbigoton Memoirs of Captain Landolphe, containing the history of his voyages during thirty-six years, to the coasts of Africa and the two Americas. Paris, chez Arthus Bertrand et chez Pillet, 1823. 2 volumes in-8 (199 x 123 mm) with a portrait engraved by Tardieu as frontispiece, 350 pp. for volume I; portrait engraved by Tardieu as frontispiece, 500 pp. 1 folding engraved map for volume II. Half tan basane, smooth spine, caissons decorated with a special iron (anchor), yellow edges (period binding). Sabin, 38840 & Borba de Moraes, I, 455 (both under Landolphe); Quérard, VII, 395. First edition, authenticated by Quesné's signature on the verso of the false title. Jean François Landolphe (1747-1825) began his career as a captain trading between Africa and the Caribbean, before returning to France. Later he established a trading post in the kingdom of Geni, which proved to be very prosperous, but was destroyed by the British in 1792. He joined the French navy and fought the British in the Caribbean and Africa. His adventures took him to the United States, Montevideo and Buenos Aires, where his ship was captured. Sent to Rio de Janeiro by the British in 1799 as a "prisoner", he received good treatment under the protection of the "Viceroy's son", who was a Freemason, like him. He managed to travel to Portugal and Spain, and from there to France, where he retired after all his adventures. In the second volume there is an account of his stay in Rio (pp. 403-423), where he attended a ceremony of the Freemasons, in which, to his great astonishment, Catholic priests, the bishop and high officials of the local government participated. Very slight wetness in the margin of the portrait of Landolphe; spines slightly rubbed. A very good copy, nicely bound and complete with the 3 plates including the portraits of the captain and of Prince Boudakan, as well as the engraved plan of Landolphe's settlement built on the island of Borodo.