MANNEVILLETTE (after).

Instructions de Daprès sur la Navigation des Indes Orientales.

BOUND FOR LOUIS-PHILIPPE, THE LAST KING OF FRANCE.

8vo. Contemporary red morocco, spine richly gilt with fleur-de-lys devices at centre of each compartment, dark green moiré silk endpapers with gilt dentelles, sides with wide gilt borders, Bourbon-Orleans arms of Louis Philippe in gilt at centre of each board (a few minor scratches). Title-page slightly smaller than text block, stamped: ‘Bibliothéque du Roi, Neuilly’. Occasional light foxing, but overall a very good copy in a fine binding. [iv], 354pp. Paris, L’Imprimerie Royale, 1819.

£5,500.00

This is the expanded and improved text volume of sailing instructions originally compiled by Mannevillette (1707-1780) for the French East India Company. Born in Le Havre to a seafaring family Apres de Mannevillette had a long and distinguished career as a navigator and was one of the first French hydrographers. During his many voyages he assembled a collection of material for his hydrographic atlas called ‘Neptune Oriental’ which was published in 1745 with the support of the Academie des Sciences. In 1762 he was promoted to director of the depository of all the reports, charts and plans relating to the navigation of the vessels of the Company in the Orient, and over the succeeding years several expanded editions of this atlas were issued. Several revised editions of the ‘Instructions’ were posthumously published.

This fine royal binding shows the coat-of-arms for the Duc d’Orléans, the future King Louis-Philippe I (1773-1850). When this book was published, Louis-Philippe had spent four years in Paris following his exile. He ascended the throne in 1830 and ruled France as the last king until 1848.

Stock No.
229573