François le Vaillant: Voyageur en Afrique Australe et sa collection de 165 aquarelles 1781-1784. Vol. I-II

Description:

First French edition. Text French. Limited edition of 500, the first 100 (numbered 1-100) copies bound in fine blue calf; the present copy is one of the 100 bound in calf, no 12/100. François le Vaillant (1753-1824) was a French author, explorer, naturalist and zoological collector. He sailed around South Africa on three voyages, 1781-1784, collecting natural history specimens. During this time 165 watercolours were executed under his direction. The collection of watercolours was sold at auction in 1963, and due to the historical significance was purchased by the South African government.

This major work includes chapters by leading researchers: Vol. 1, Matthys Bokhorst, François le Vaillant,: sa vie et son oeuvre; Vernon S. Forbes, Les voyages de Le Vaillant en Afrique austral, 1781-4; Ronald B. Lewcock and Dirk Visser, Les batiments dans les aquarelles de Le Vaillant ; Margaret Snow, Hottentots, Bushmen et Bantous ; P.R. Kirby, Le Vaillant et la musique indigene ; and J.M. Winterbottom, Le Vaillant, ornithologue. Vol. 2, Jurgens Meester, Les portraits de mammifères de Le Vaillant; S.H. Skaife, Insectes et serpents; P.G. Jordaan, Les peintures de plantes; Matthys Bokhorst, Origine et histoire des acquarelles de la collection Le Vaillant; Appreciation d’un historien de l’art ; A.M. Lewin Robinson, Notes bibliographiques en marge des travaux de Le Vaillant sur l’Afrique.

Condition

4to, full calf, gt, aeg, bevelled boards, minor rubbing to foot of spine. From the library of Prof. J. Green (1928-2016) with his name to endparers. A fine set.