Paris: Chez l'Auteur, Froule, Nyon, and Barrois, 1782. In two volumes. First edition. 4to. xv, (i), (viii), 317, (1); viii, 298 pp.; with half-titles. Illustrated with 140 hand-colored engraved plates; with an additional 140 engraved uncolored plates in a different state, by Poisson after drawings by Sonnerat. Full contemporary marbled brown calf, brown morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, spine ends and corners worn, boards and extremities rubbed and dry, chipping along spines, front joint of first volume split but holding, upper and lower rear joint of same split, upper and lower front joint of second volume split; all edges gilt; blue endpapers; armorial book-plate of Jules Capron, of Ypres on front paste-down of each volume; bookseller's ticket on front paste-down of first volume. Cordier Sinica III 2102; Hill, p. 578

First edition of Pierre Sonnerat's "celebrated classic of natural history exploration and discoveries in the Far East" (Hill). Sonnerat was a French naturalist and nephew of botanist Pierre Poivre, who made several voyages to southeast Asia between 1769 and 1781. In 1782 he published the above account, covering the region's various customs, social classes, religions, and natural history, and featuring dozens of finely engraved and hand-colored plates.

The first volume covers India exclusively, including its social classes and professions. It is notable for its discussion and illustration of Hindu deities. The second volume follows Sonnerat's travels to China, Ceylon, Malacca, the Philippines, Burma, the Maldives, Madagascar, and elsewhere, discussing and illustrating the various plant and animal life. The work was quickly translated into various languages, appearing in German in 1783, Swedish in 1786, and in English in 1788. In 1806 Charles Sigisbert Sonnini published an expanded second edition using Sonnerat's manuscripts as well as newly obtained documents.