SMITH, William (éd.) - Lot 148

SMITH, William (éd.) Nouvelle bibliothèque des voyages anciens et modernes, contenant la relation complète ou analyse des voyages de Christophe Colomb, Fernand Cortez, Pizarre, Anson, Byron, Bougainville, Cook; La Peyrouse, Bruce, Levaillant, Mungo-Park, Burkhardt, Fraser, Richard and John Lander, Basil-Hall, Caillé, Ross, Baudin, Duperrey, Freycinet, Choiseuil-Gouffier, Pouqueville, Klaproth, Dumont-d'Urville, etc Paris, Firmin Didot frères for Duménil, [1842]. 12 volumes in-8 (215 x 128 mm) of LXXVI, 363 pp. 2 ff.n.ch., 1 large folding map partially colored, 8 plates for volume I; 2 ff.n.ch., IV, 393 pp. 1 f.n.ch., 9 plates for volume II; 2 ff.n.ch., 403 pp, 8 plates for volume III; 2 ff.n.ch., 396 pp., 1 f.n.ch., 8 plates for volume IV; 2 ff.n.ch., 396 pp., 4 ff.n.ch., 11 plates for volume V; 2 ff.n.ch., 388 pp., 2 ff.n.ch., 8 plates for volume VI; 2 ff.n.ch., 412 pp, 1 f.n.c., 1 large folding map partially colored, 8 plates for volume VII; 2 f.n.c., 441 pp., 1 f.n.c., 8 plates for volume VIII; 2 f.n.c., 438 pp., 2 f.n.c., 8 plates for volume IX; 2 f.n.c., 439 pp, 1 large engraved folding map partially colored, 8 plates for volume X ; 2 ff.n.ch., 412 pp. 8 plates for volume XI ; 2 ff.n.ch., 397 pp. 1 f.n.ch., 2 large engraved folding maps partially colored, 8 plates for volume XII. Cherry half-bassane, smooth spine decorated in the tail with the name 'Escorpain', edges jaspées (binding of the time). Beautiful edition of the most important voyages. It follows the classification given by William Smith in the series published under the title Voyages autour du monde et dans les contrées les plus curieuses... It is prefaced by Augustin-Amédée Duponchel. Richly illustrated with 100 steel engraved plates, and completed by 5 large folding engraved maps. A very good copy, well preserved in its uniform binding. Some foxing. Provenance: Anonymous bookplate with the motto 'Gott helf mir' (May God save me).