Nouveau voyage aux isles de l'Amerique contenant l'histoire naturelle de ces pays, l'origine, les moeurs, la religion & le gouvernement des habitans anciens et modernes [...]. Tome premier [- second].

2 vol., 4to: [8]-viii-[4]-168-360 [= 366] pp., 47 pl.; [8]-120 [= 520]-[16] pp., 19 pl. (browning, some foxing, sm. wormtrack in bl. margins of last ff. of vol. II).

Contemp. brown sheep, gilt orn. spine with raised band and labels, red spr. edges (used, heads and tail of of vol. I missing).

Reprint of the first edition (Paris, 1722) of this "very pleasant and instructive work in many respects" and "the most copious that we possess on the Antilles" by the French clergyman, botanist, writer, explorer, ethnographer, soldier, engineer, and landowner Labat (1663-1738), who stayed for 10 years on the islands. Ill. with 2 engr. typographical mark, signed by B. Picart (1722), 2 engr. headpieces and 66 plates of which some folding, mainly figuring plants, trees and fruits (banana, cacao, papaya, fig, pineapple, avocado, manchineel, etc.), but also some maps (Martinique, Barbados, Gulf of Mexico and West Indies, etc.), animals (lizard, swordfish, etc.) and scenes of every day life (how to turn turtles, tobacco manufacturing, indigo production, etc.). Titles printed in black and red. Labat contributed to the development and the modernisation of the sugar industry. His own estate, Fonds-Saint-Jacques, was for a long time regarded as a model to be copied.
Ref. STCN. - Sabin 38411. - Nissen (ZBI) 2330 (1st ed.). - Pritzel 4960 (1st ed.). - Alden/Landis V:308. - Leclerc 1323. - Not in Nissen (BBI), Chadenat.