Voyage Dans la République de Colombia, en 1823

Two volumes bound in one, 8vo (196x120 mm). [4], IV, 307, [3]; [4], 316, [2] pp. with 8 aquatint plates engraved by Pierre Francois Legrand after Roullin and a large engraved folding map of Colombia. Contemporary half calf gilt. Browned throughout, ore heavily at the beginning and at the end of the volume.
First edition. The French diplomat Gaspard Théodore Mollien was one of the earliest European explorers of the West African interior. He was aboard the Medusa on its way to Senegal when it was famously wrecked near Cap Blanc. In 1817 he explored Cap-Vert (Senegal) and navigated the Senegal and Gambia rivers. In 1819 he was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor for his African campaign. Afterwards, in 1822, he was sent to South America as “chargé de mission” for the French administration, who maintained a great interest in Gran Columbia, a state that had just become independent, having separated from Spain in 1819, and encompassed at the time much of northern South America and part of southern Central America. In 1828 he was transferred to Haiti, where he was named consul. Finally, from 1831 to 1848, he served as consul in Havana, Cuba.
In the present work Mollien describes his journey, the natives, their costumes, and the politics of the country. The Voyage was reprinted several times and translated into English, German, Dutch, and Italian.
Sabin, 49917; Chadenat 640 (“Cet ouvrage contient des renseignements fort intéressants sur la guerre de l'Indépendence, sur Bolivar, Miranda, Morillo, les moeurs des habitants, etc.”).