Opmaak 1 - Gert Jan Bestebreurtje

Item 93
94 LE VAILLANT, François. Voyage dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique, par le Cap de Bonne-
Espérance dans les annéees 1780, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85. Brux., Benoit le Francq, 1791.
2 volumes. 8vo. Contemporary calf, spines richly gilt, with red morocco labels to
spines (a few wormholes). With 12 engraved plates (2 folding). XX,274; 287,(1) pp.
€ 895,00
First published in French in 1790. - 'Le Vaillant was born at Paramaribo in Dutch
Guiana in 1753, and after being educated in Holland, France, and Germany, proceeded
to Paris where he studied the natural history collections, and, full of enthusiasm
and ambition, decided to travel into the interior of Africa in order to further his
opportunities of gaining information by observing the specimens in their native countries.
Making the acquaintance of Mr. Temminck, the Treasurer of the Dutch East
India Company, he was enabled to proceed to the Cape in one of the Company's ships
called the Held-Woltemaade ... The narrative is characterised by the intelligent and
interesting manner in which it is written.' (Mendelssohn pp.889-890). On his first
excursion Le Vaillant advanced westward along the coast as far as the Great Fish
River. His second excursion, between April 1783 and August 1784, took him northward
beyond the Orange River. He was one of the first to study the birds in South
Africa. - A fine set.
Mendelssohn I, p.889; SAB III, p.103; Howgego p.625; Rookmaaker, The zoological
exploration of S. Africa 1650-1790, p.177-271, Cf. Nissen, ZBI, 2480.