MADAGASCAR - Napoléon III - Reine Ranavalo Lot n° 37

Copy of the French - Malagasy Dictionary of Napoleon III and Queen Ranavalo of Madagascar French - Malagasy dictionary written by Catholic missionaries in Madagascar and adapted to the dialects of all the provinces. Ile Bourbon . Etablissement malgache de Notre Dame de la Ressource, 1855. Gr. in 8°. Full Empire green morocco binding. Spine ribbed, each box edged with triple gilded fillets. On the first board, a crowned imperial eagle (Napoleon III's coat of arms). Green morocco plate on the endpapers, with wide gilded lace. Handwritten inscription "Ranavalo II Manjakavany tané Madagascar. Queen Ranavalo is said to have offered this copy to Lamiré, lieutenant de vaisseau, Capitaine général des ports et rades de l'île de la Réunion. He gave it to Napoleon III, who had it bound with his coat of arms. A fine copy. Ex libris Ryckebusch. Ryckebusch I, 104: "The production of this printing house is little known. The present book is extremely rare.