8vo., on laid paper, text in French, with engraved portrait of the author, an engraved plate, a large folding engraved map and engraved head- and tail-pieces in the text; contemporary full calf, neatly rebacked in twentieth century calf to style, sprinkled edges, a remarkably clean, crisp copy. Complete with half-title, advertisement and comprehensive index. The engraved portrait of Raynal is by Charles-Nicolas Cochin. The plate (by Eisen) is bound at the beginning rather than facing p.89. The map is transcribed by Bonne. An uncommon edition of Raynal's classic account. This first volume [of seven] contains Books I-III. Book I describes the activities (discoveries, wars and conquests) of the Portuguese in the Middle East, India, East Indies and Far East, including Indostan, Malabar, the Persian Gulf, the Moluccas and China. Book II follows the Dutch in the same regions, including Formosa, Timor, Japan, the Celebes, Borneo, Sumatra, Siam, Ceylon, Coromandel, Malabar, Cape of Good Hope and Java. Book III is devoted to the English in their relations with the Dutch and Portuguese in the Middle East, Malabar, Coromandel, Bengal, St. Helena and Comoros Islands. This volume is complete in itself. Extremely scarce, especially in this condition. See Sabin 68080; this edition not recorded by Kress.
