M. le Baron de M**** - Petits Voyages Pittoresques dans l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amérique, la - 1813

M. le Baron de M****** – Picturesque Little Voyages in Asia, Africa, America, Polynesia and the Southern Lands (Volume One) – with all 15 fine, hand-colored copper-engraved plates – Paris, Saintin, 1813

Item Description
Title: Picturesque Little Voyages in Asia, Africa, America, Polynesia and the Southern Lands; containing the description of the principal countries... and that of their inhabitants (Volume One)

Author: M. le Baron de M****
Publisher: Chez Saintin, Librarian to H.M. the Empress, rue du Foin-Saint-Jacques, Paris
Year of publication: 1813
Language: French

Description & Features:
Offered is the rare first volume (Volume One) of this exquisite ethnographic plate work from the era of the First French Empire (Napoleon I, Paris 1813). The inner title explicitly notes the fine coloring from the time of its creation (“Avec trente-deux planches coloriées soigneusement, représentant les costumes de tous ces peuples” – for the work as a whole across the volumes).

Complete Plate Suite of Volume 1:
The present first volume contains a magnificent and self-contained sequence of 15 precisely numbered, contemporaneously hand-colored copper-engraved plates (Planche 1 to 15), depicting traditional costumes and ethnic groups of the world:
* Plate 1: Hottentots
* Plate 2: Man and Woman of the Kalmyks
* Plate 3: Man and Woman of Georgia
* Plate 4: Man and Woman of Kamtschatka
* Plate 5: Man and Woman of New Holland (Australia)
* Plate 6: Man and Woman of the Circassians
* Plate 7: Man and Woman of the Congo
* Plate 8: Man and Woman of Persia
* Plate 9: Indians of Mexico
* Plate 10: Man and Woman of Japan
* Plate 11: Men and Women of Nigritie
* Plate 12: Santon / Egypt / Almée
* Plate 13: Caffres
* Plate 14: Man and Woman of Korea
* Plate 15: Man and Woman of Ceylon

Condition:
A beautiful and age-appropriate collectible condition for a travel and plate work over 200 years old:
Cover & text block: Contemporary binding with minor, age-related wear; the text block remains essentially stable.

Plates & Paper: The paper shows uniform, age-related light browning and minimal foxing. The absolute highlight: The hand-colored copper engravings are in an exceptionally fresh, vivid and clean preserved state.

Notes on the photos:
The attached detail photos of the title page and all 15 hand-colored plates are an essential part of the condition and completeness description.

Private sale from my personal collection.