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

M. le Baron de M****** – Petits Voyages Pittoresques dans l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amérique, la Polynésie et les Terres Australes (Tome Premier) – With all 15 fine, hand-colored copperplate engravings – Paris, Saintin, 1813

Article description
Title: Petits Voyages Pittoresques dans l'Asie, l'Afrique, l'Amérique, la Polynésie et les Terres Australes; 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 Her Majesty the Empress, rue du Foin-Saint-Jacques, Paris
Year of publication: 1813
Language: French

Description & Ausstattung (Description & Contents):
What is 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 period of origin (“Avec trente-deux planches coloriées soigneusement, représentant les costumes de tous ces peuples” – for the entire work across volumes).

Complete plate apparatus of Volume 1:
The present first volume contains a splendid and self-contained sequence of 15 precisely numbered, contemporarily hand-colored copperplate engravings (Plate 1 to Plate 15), showing traditional costumes and peoples of the world:
* Plate 1: Hottentots
* Plate 2: Man and Woman 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 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: Feloups of Nigritia
* Plate 12: Sontons / Egypt / Almée
* Plate 13: Kaffirs
* Plate 14: Man and Woman of Korea
* Plate 15: Man and Woman of Ceylon

Condition:
Nice and era-appropriate collectible condition for a travel and plate work over 200 years old:
Binding & text block: Contemporary binding with slight, age-related rubbing; the text block is essentially sound.

Plates & paper: The paper shows even, age-typical light browning and minor spots. The absolute highlight: The hand-colored copper engravings are in an exceptionally fresh, vibrant, and clean preserved state.

Note on the photos:
The included 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 private collection.