*MATTHEWS (John).
Journey to the Sierra-Leone River, on the coast of Africa, Containing a report of the trade, productions, customs, both civil and religious, and the manners of the inhabitants... Written during his stay in this country, during 1785, 1786 and 1787; with a letter on the Negro Trade: Translated from English by Bellart.
Paris : From the Printing Office of Hautbout l'aîné, year V [1797]. - In-16, blond calf, smooth spine decorated, red edges (period binding).
First edition of the French translation of this relation of a trip to Africa composed of 8 letters in which the author deals with the different aspects of Sierra Leone and notably the slave trade.
These letters are followed by a "Note of the translator on the trade of the Negroes", beginning in these terms: "By finishing this letter where the most absurd sophisms are employed to justify the most immoral of all the traffics, I cannot dissimulate that more than once the indignation made me throw the pen". Following are a "Historical Notice on the new colony of Sierra-Leone by citizen Gregoire" and an "Extract of a particular letter on the new colony of Sierra-Leone, and on the maneuvers of the slave traders to destroy the establishment".
The edition is illustrated with a plate depicting a "view of the Sierra-Leone River and the North Shore [...] taken from St. George's Mountain, where the free negro settlement was formed in 1787."
Missing head cover, dull corners, worm hole in one spine.
WARNING:
this lot is subject to an additional 5.5% temporary import tax.
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