Antiquarenbeurs Mechelen


Exhibitor

Florisatus Fine Books
Plein 19 C
2511 CS Den Haag
Netherlands

Contact

Edwin & Liesbeth Bloemsaat

Phone

+31 (0) 614 270 027 +31 (0) 614 270 027

Email

finebooks@florisatus.nl

Website

ilab.org/affiliate/florisatus-fine-books-manuscripts-musicalia

A coloured copy of this important work about slavery
Stedman, Captain John Gabriel. Narrative of a five years? expedition, against the revolted negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the Wild Coast of South America; from the year 1772 to 1777: elucidating the history of that country and describing its productions, viz. quadrupedes, fishes, birds, reptiles, trees, shrubs, fruits and roots; with an account of the Indians of Guiana & Negroes of Guinea. London, printed for J. Johnson (Luke Hansard printer), 1813. Second edition, corrected. 2 volumes. 4to (270 x 210 mm). XVIII, 423, [5]; IV, 419, [5] p.

Engraved frontispiece by Bartolozzi after Stedman, engraved title page in vol. 1 & 2 with identical title vignettes, and 80 plates (including 3 maps), all handcoloured, of ehich 16 by William Blake, others by Bartolozzi, Holloway a.o.

Old treecalf with modern spines with red and green shields. marbled end leaves. Marbled edges.
The author, officer in the Scots Brigade in Holland, took part in this expedition, ordered by the Dutch Republic, to suppress a revolt of negro slaves. His book, originally published in 1776, is a rich source of knowledge concerning the flora and fauna of Surinam as well as its economy. Even though his publisher toned down the text, his observations on the cruel treatment of slaves gave rise to much indignation in Western Europe, where the book became popular in several countries. Translations were made in French (1799) and Dutch (1799-1800).

This is a reissue of the second edition of 1806. The English editions have many more illustrations (80) than the French (44) and Dutch (42) editions. The first (1796) edition was not issued by the publisher with handcolouring.

-Provenance: With the engraved armorial ex libris of: "Sir Richd Carr Glyn Bart". Sir Richard Carr Glyn, 1st Baronet (1755-1838) was a British banker and politician.

-Literature: Abbey 719; Brunet V, 527 (ed. 1796 and 1806); Cox II, 285; Lewine 515 (ed. 1796); Rouffaer/Muller 624; Sabin 91075; Suriname cat. UB A?dam 6452; Tiele 1046.

-Condition: Spines rebacked, boards a bit rubbed; Occasionally some staining; The colouring is a bit clumsy, not the refined gold hightened found in some copies; In general a fine copy.


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