Voyages et Avantures de Jaques Massé.
Bordeaux: James l'Aveugle, 1710. First edition. An important imaginary voyage to Australia: a 'landmark' in the development of the French voyage novel (Atkinson), in its original full calf decorated binding.
A Robinsonade account, which predates Defoe. It is complete with the ship wreck, exploration, conflict with local inhabitants, stand off and final rescue by a passing ship. It is a reasonable representation of the Australian continent and its challenges, along with a realistic estimation of the importance of mining and irrigation to Australia that "foreshadow what has actually come to pass in modern Australia." (Friederich)
The title page is falsely dated 1710. In his deep analyses of Tyssot de Patot and his publications, Aubrey Rosenberg has concluded that this 1710 printing, with the armillary sphere device on the title page with the base pointing to the left, is indeed the first edition, and was published between 1714 and 1718. "Robinson Crusoe" first appeared in 1719.
12mo, (viii), 508pp. Bound in the original full brown calf binding, gilt spine in 6 compartments, raised bands, gilt device decoration on spine and outer dentelles. Bookplate of Sir John Dashwood King on the inside front pastedown. Rosenberg "A" Gove, 217-219; Cioranescu 62587; Barbier IV, 1103; Atkinson, 'The Extraordinary Voyage in French Literature', p. 70; Rosenberg, pp. 84-5.
A handsome copy in its original binding. Item #23256
Price: $1,250.00