William Smith. A New Voyage to Guinea: Describing the Customs, Manners, Soil, Climate, Habits, Buildings, Educatio...

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The First Edition

William Smith. A New Voyage to Guinea: Describing the Customs, Manners, Soil, Climate, Habits, Buildings, Education, Manual Arts, Agriculture, Trade, Employments, Languages, Ranks of Distinction, Habitations, Diversions, Marriages, and whatever else is memorable among the Inhabitants. Likewise, an Account of their Animals, Minerals, &tc. London: Printed for John Nourse, 1744 [though incorrectly dated MDDCXLIV].

First edition. Octavo. iv, 276 pages, plus index. Frontispiece and four charming engraved plates of fish, flora, and fauna of Guinea.

Handsome full morocco binding by Stern & Dess. Gilt floral devices, fillets, rules, dentelles, and lettering. All edges gilt. Reddish-brown leather of boards has faded unevenly to olive. Very minor wear to tips of corners. Over-opened at frontis-title opening. A tight and bright copy in near fine condition.

William Smith was surveyor of the Royal African Company who embarked on his voyage in 1726 with the aim of making surveys and drawings of all English settlements in Guinea. Includes material on the slave trade. Many passages taken from Bosman, per Thomas Astley. From the Professor John Ralph Willis Collection of Rare Africana.

Gay 2823 (French edition). Sabin 84560.