27078 — A Paris, Chez Jean-Baptiste Coignard, 1720. With 6 engraved plates, four of which are folding and including a plan of Lima. Two parts in one volume. xxxv, [1, blank], 282, 244, [2] pp. 12mo. Nineteenth-century half morocco, spine with raised bands and gilt lettering, marbled boards. European Americana 720/78; Sabin 21437; James Ford Bell Library D354; Gove, The Imaginary Voyage in Prose Fiction, p. 233; Conlon 20:394; not in Echeverria & Wilkie; Goldsmiths' 5610; not in Kress or Einaudi. First edition of this scarce book which, although suggesting to be an account of a voyage to South America, is actually a work of fiction. Durret himself claims that it was based on an account by the "Sieur Bachelier" to which he only added notes and of which improved the style. This however is not correct, the work is by Durret. "Chapter 17 of the first part and chapter 19 contain descriptions of Santa Catharina and Brazil in general. The letter is signed "Durret," but the account is by Bachelier, a surgeon. Father Labat believes this was an imaginary voyage" (Borba de Moreas, i, p. 281)."Récit, selon Barbier, plein de bévues et de contradictions, car D. l'aurait fait sans sortir de chez lui. Détails sur les moeurs, et sur les coutumes nuptiales de Malte, du Maroc, des Canaries, du Brézil, du Chili, du Pérou, de Madagascar, etc." (INED 1678.)"Contains useful information on the products of the South American coast" (James Ford Bell Library). - Title page cut short at foot and outer margin.
