[CHINA] CHARPENTIER DE COSSIGNY, JOSEPH FRANCOIS. Voyage a Canton, capitale de la province de ce nom, a la Chine; par Gorée, le Cap de Bonne Espérance, et les Isles de France et de la Reunion; suivi d'observations sur le voyage a la Chine, de Lord Macartney et du Citoyen Van-Braam, et d'une esquisse des arts des Indiens et des Chinois.
Paris: Chez André, An VII de la Republique Francaise (i.e. 1799). First edition. Period quarter red morocco gilt, black speckled calf sides, all edges gilt. 7 3/4 x 5 inches (20 x 12.5 cm); viii, 607, (1) pp. Front board rubbed with some loss of the calf, though the binding is structurally sound and still quite attractive, generally a very fresh copy internally.

Charpentier de Cossigny (1730-1809) was born on Mauritius, and is one of the great figures in the history of the island. His father was an engineer and field marshal in the service of the Compagnie des Indes. He became an engineer himself, initially serving under his father in Pondicherry, before being assigned to Mauritius, where he took care of the development of Port-Louis until the Revolution (this aside from a mission in Java in 1761-1762). A passionate botanist, he created a botanical garden at Palma on Mauritius for the acclimatization of various species. He introduced sugar cane from Batavia and the varnish tree from China to the island. He published several works; the present (which is quite rare) is the most extensive. His observations on Staunton's embassy are extensive and interesting. Lust 217; Cordier 2105.

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