細節
NICOLAS JOSEPH THIERY DE MENONVILLE (1739-1780)
Trait de la culture du Nopal, et de l'ducation de la Cochenille dans les Colonies Franaises de l'Ameriques; Prcd d'un Voyage a Guaxaca. Cap-Franais [Hati]: Herbault; Paris: Delalain; Bordeaux, Bergert, 1787. 2 volumes, 8 (198 x 122mm). Three hand-coloured engraved plates after G.S. de la Haye, two of cacti and one of the cochineal beetle, with the cancel half-title and title in vol. I, divisional half-titles, list of subscribers. (Without the 'pitre ddicatoire and the cancel of R3, dampstaining to lower margins of vol. I and part of vol. 2, some unobtrusive spotting.) Contemporary mottled sheep, spines gilt (extremities rubbed, head and foot of spines chipped).
A rare and early Haitian imprint, this the first edition with the rare plates, with volume one in second issue. Thiery de Menonville, a passionate botanist, is best known for his project to introduce cochineal beetles to various French colonies. The precious insect and the dyestuff which was made from it were jealously guarded by the Spanish, as were methods of propagation and breeding of the beetle. In order to learn more about the cochineal Thiery de Menonville went to Mexico where he passed himself off as a catalan medic. Sabin 95349; Pritzel 9214. (2)
Trait de la culture du Nopal, et de l'ducation de la Cochenille dans les Colonies Franaises de l'Ameriques; Prcd d'un Voyage a Guaxaca. Cap-Franais [Hati]: Herbault; Paris: Delalain; Bordeaux, Bergert, 1787. 2 volumes, 8 (198 x 122mm). Three hand-coloured engraved plates after G.S. de la Haye, two of cacti and one of the cochineal beetle, with the cancel half-title and title in vol. I, divisional half-titles, list of subscribers. (Without the 'pitre ddicatoire and the cancel of R3, dampstaining to lower margins of vol. I and part of vol. 2, some unobtrusive spotting.) Contemporary mottled sheep, spines gilt (extremities rubbed, head and foot of spines chipped).
A rare and early Haitian imprint, this the first edition with the rare plates, with volume one in second issue. Thiery de Menonville, a passionate botanist, is best known for his project to introduce cochineal beetles to various French colonies. The precious insect and the dyestuff which was made from it were jealously guarded by the Spanish, as were methods of propagation and breeding of the beetle. In order to learn more about the cochineal Thiery de Menonville went to Mexico where he passed himself off as a catalan medic. Sabin 95349; Pritzel 9214. (2)