Paris, Jean-Baptiste et Charles J.B. Delespine, 1730.
8 volumes 12mo [164 x 95 mm] of : I/ (3) ll., xxii pp., (1) l. of table, 459 pp., (35) pp. of table ; II/ (2) ll., 398 pp., 1 folding pl., (17) ll. of table ; III/ (2) ll., 403 pp., 2 engravings out of pagination including 1 folding, (29) pp. ; IV/ (3) ll., 413 pp. (misnumbered 415), 1 folding pl., (12) ll. ; V/ (2) ll., 401 pp., (11) pp. ; VI/ (2) ll., 388 pp., 1 folding pl., (5) ll. ; VII/ (2) ll., 399 pp., (6) ll., VIII/ (4) l., 411 pp. (misnumbered 409), (9) ll. A few light foxing. Red morocco, large gilt dentelle on the covers, gilt arms stamped on th center of the covers, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt edges. Contemporary binding.
First edition of the travel made by Père Labat in Spain in 1705 and in Italy in 1706 and from 1709 to 1716.
Père Labat was a Dominican religious and a professor of mathematics and philosophy in Nancy. He embarked in 1693 in La Rochelle to join the missions in Martinique then in Guadeloupe. After spending more than ten years in the West Indies where he contributed to the success of the growth of the islands, Père Labat came back in Europe in 1705 with the idea of recruiting colleagues to keep up with his work. He spent then several months in Cadiz and in Andalusia. His superiors requested him in Bologna in 1706, to give an account of his missions and then hold him in Rome until 1709 and in Civitavecchia until 1716.
In this travel relation, Labat gives the account of his discoveries in Italy (the monuments, paintings, libraries, cabinets of curiosities, etc.) and in Spain, especially in Cadiz.
The first volume dedicated to Spain also contains a chapter regarding the missions to Philippines.
The work is illustrated with 5 folding maps and engraved plates.
A magnificent copy in contemporary red dentelle morocco with the arms of the marquis de Herrenberg. The seventh volume bears the coat of arms placed side by side of the marquis and his wife.
It is likely the dedication copy. The edition is indeed dedicated to Monsieur le Marquis D*** and the magnificence of the binding gives credit to the thesis of a present copy.
Provenance : from the baron Horace de Landau, baron Alexis de Redé and Feltrinelli’s collections, with engraved ex libris.
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