MAURITIUS (Mascarenhas)

Leguat, François [François Leguat (1637 - September 1735) was a French explorer and naturalist].

(Book #ID 95306)

A Londres, (London): Chez David Mortier, Marchand Libraire 1720. 1720.

Set comprising two volumes of text with plates. Uniform matching hard back binding in full red morocco leather covers, raised bands with gilt titles and tools, new hand made end papers. 8vo. 6¾'' x 4''. Leguat was one of a small group of male French Protestant refugees who in 1691 settled on the then uninhabited island of Rodrigues in the western Indian Ocean. The colonist's became discontented with their life on the island and after a stay of two years managed to escape to Mauritius in a small boat. Leguat arrived back in Europe in June 1698 and wrote this book recounting his adventures which was published in 1708. In his book Leguat describes several species of birds and tortoises that were endemic to Rodrigues but are now extinct. The French edition was published in both London and Amsterdam. An English translation with the title 'A new voyage to the East-Indies' was published in London, and a Dutch edition in Utrecht. Some of the text is very similar to passages found in works by Maximilien Misson, another French Huguenot living in exile. It appears that either Leguat copied Misson or, more likely, Misson assisted Leguat with the book and wrote the preface. The book is notable in containing Leguat's natural history observations on the now extinct fauna of Rodrigues, including the Rodrigues solitaire, the Rodrigues rail, the domed and the saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoises, and Newton's parakeet. Comprising - Volume I: original green tie bookmark., engraved frontispiece., title page printed in red and black with small vignette., xx [preface]., engraved header., embellished capital letter., 164 pp [+ i]., 4 maps [3 folding]., 15 engraved plates [1 folding]., 1 folding text plate. Volume II: title page printed in red and black with different small vignette., engraved header, embellished capital letter., 180 pp [+ 32 pp contents]., 8 engraved plates [1 folding]., 1 map. Volume II page number 113 incorrectly printed as page 123. Just a little age toning to the text block edges and in Very Good clean and tidy condition. Member of the P.B.F.A.

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Le Gentil de la Galaisière (Guillaume-Joseph-Hyacinthe). [Guillaume Joseph Hyacinthe Jean-Baptiste Le Gentil de la Galaisière (born Coutances, 12 September 1725 - died Paris, 22 October 1792) was a French astronomer who discovered several nebulae and was appointed to the Royal Academy of Sciences].

(Book #ID 95297)

Published A Paris, de l'Imprimerie Royale First Edition 1779 | 1781. 1779 - 1781.

Recently rebound matching first edition hard back binding in full mahogany leather, raised bands with red morocco title labels, gilt centre tooling to the remaining panels, gilt lines, handmade Griffen Mill end papers. 4to. 10¼'' x 8''. Volume I. [xvi] (title, dedication, foreword, table of chapters and articles)., 707 pp, xiii (table of contents), (additions, faults to correct)., 13 folded engraved plates (including 4 maps). Volume II. [xvi] (title, foreword, table)., 844 pp, xvi, [4] (mistakes to be corrected, notice to the binder)., 14 folded engraved plates (including 8 maps). 27 folding plates in total. Original edition of this important scientific relationship due to the French astronomer Guillaume Joseph Hyacinthe Jean-Baptiste The Gentil of the Galaisière (1725-1792). The latter embarked on the order of the Academy of Sciences for India to observe the passage of Venus on the disk of the Sun. He left Brest on March 26, 1760 aboard the Berryer, a vessel of fifty guns of the East India Company, and arrived on July 10 at the Ile-de-France (Mauritius), hoping to find another ship that would sail for India. Unable to reach Pondicherry because of the conflict with the English, he made some observations in Mauritius and decided to wait for the next passage of Venus eight years later. Thus his scientific journey will last in the end eleven and a half years. He then makes the most of his long stay and travels through India and the Indian Ocean from Madagascar to Manila, collecting specimens of natural sciences, geographical positions or ethnological evidence to study the tides, monsoons, natural history, astronomy and Indian religion. His work contains many valuable information on Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and the Philippines, details on the mornings of the Indians on the Coromandel coast, on the astronomy of the Brahms, astronomical observations made in Pondicherry, remarks on navigation through the Strait of Malacca. He managed to reach Pondicherry where the governor had him build an observatory to which Le Gentil will devote himself more than a year. The rich iconography of the book consists of 27 engraved plates and maps dedicated to the collected information and its astronomical observations. Minimal age tanning to the closed text block edges and a Very Good clean and sound condition set. Member of the P.B.F.A.

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Leblond, Marius

(Book #ID 95280)

Published by Éditions Alsatia, 1 Rue Garancière, Paris, 1946. 1946.

First edition in publisher's original plain brown card wrap covers [soft back]. 8vo. 9½'' x 6½''. Contains 256 printed pages of French text with monochrome photographs throughout. One worm hole to the rear cover, but not into the book, in Very Good clean condition, no dust wrapper as issued. Member of the P.B.F.A.

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Lenoir, Philippe

(Book #ID 93049)

Published by Les Editions du Cygne, Port-Louis, Mauritius First Edition 1979. 1979.

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original camel cloth covers, burgundy title and author lettering to the spine and front cover, archive illustrated end papers. 4to 10½'' x 8½''. Contains 236 printed pages of text with colour illustrations and photographs throughout. Front corners slightly turned-in, light foxing to the closed upper edges. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper with sun fading to the burgundy of the spine, nicks to the spine ends. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection, it does not adhere to the book or to the dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A.

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