November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
[MAPS AND VIEWS OF THE FRENCH COLONY OF HAITI]. RECUEIL DE VUES DES LIEUX PRINCIPAUX DE LA COLONIE FRANCOISE DE SAINT-DOMINGUE, GRAVEES PAR LES SOINS DE M. PONCE. Paris: Chez M. Moreau de Saint-Mery, M. Ponce, and M. Phelipeau, 1791. Folio (18-3/4" x 13-1/2"); 30 copperplate-engraved maps, plans and plates (nearly half bifolium in size, with one hand-colored in outline), plus plate list sheet following the title page. In original printer’s boards with blue marbled paper wraps. An important group of maps and views done of the prosperous French colony of Saint-Domingue on the eve of the French and Haitian Revolutions. Several of the scenic views by Pierre Ozanne depict slaves in the foreground, the engravings apparently derived from drawings he made on the spot while accompanying Admiral Destaing’s expeditionary force in America and the West Indies during the 1778-1779, while six vignettes depicts the costume and daily life of the slaves and free blacks. Four, full page plates are related to the processing of sugar. This volume was a separately-issued work, intended as a later companion piece to Moreau de Saint-Méry's "Loix et Constitutions des Colonies Francoises dans L'Amerique sous le Vent" (1790). It includes the scarce, general map of Saint-Domingue by Sionis, not printed until 1796 (plate 16). Plate 17 as given in the plate list, "Plan général de la Partie Françoise de Saint-Domingue" is lacking, which appears to be the case with all extant copies and was possibly never published. As indicated in the title, the plates were engraved under the supervision of Nicholas de Ponce, while Phelipeau published the maps (with the exception of Plate 16 referenced above). A creole from Martinique, Moreau de Saint-Mery (1750-1819) studied law in France and practiced in Saint-Domingue, being appointed superior counsel of the island colony in 1780. He returned to France in 1783 and from 1784-1790 published “Loix et Constitutiones.” St. Mery became involved in Revolutionary politics and served in the National Assembly representing Saint-Domingue, but by 1794 had fallen out of favor and escaped the guillotine by fleeing to the United States. He settled in Philadelphia where he published “Description topographique et politique…de l’ile de Saint-Domingue” (1796), later returning to France in 1798. Historical novelist Kenneth Roberts later translated and published St. Mery’s manuscript journal of his travels in America, after utilizing it and St. Mery’s other works while researching his novel of the Haitian Revolution, “Lydia Bailey.” Sabin 50578; Leclerc 1404; Mapoteca Colombiana 224 (gives full plate list). CONDITION: Worn along backstrip with loosening to rear hinge; light to moderate marginal dampstaining and worming, not affecting images; pages otherwise bright and clean. JLK
Item Dimensions: 19 - 1/4 x 13 - 1/4"