Paris, Delaforest, Arthus Bertrand, 1826. 8vo (21.4 x 12.7 cm). lxv, 432 pp., one folded, engraved map and eight lithographed plates. Contemporary full calf; spine with four raised, gilt-patterned bands; compartments with blind-tooled and gilt vignettes, gilt title; boards with blind-stamped and gilt border and large, intricate blind-stamped vignette. Marbled endpapers, marbled edges.

First French edition, translated from the first English edition of 1825 with a long, additional essay on the progress of the knowledge of western Africa - in particular Sierra Leone - that was not present in the English edition. The additions are by the French writer, geographer and co-founder of the Société de Géographie, Philippe François Lasnon De Larenaudière, [or De La Renaudière] (1781-1845). Alexander Gordon Laing (1794-1826) "...was a British explorer and the first European to reach Timbuktu via the north/south route. ...In 1822 he transferred into the Royal African Colonial Corps as a captain. In that year, while with his regiment at Sierra Leone, he was sent by the governor Sir Charles MacCarthy to the Mandingo lands, with the dual objective of opening up commerce and endeavouring to abolish the slave trade in that region. Later in the same year Laing visited Falaba, the capital of Solimana, and ascertained the source of the Rokel. He endeavoured to reach the source of the Niger, but was stopped by the natives. He was, however, able to fix it with approximate accuracy. ... He took an active part in the Ashanti War of 1823-24, and was sent home with the despatches containing the news of the death in action of Sir Charles MacCarthy. While in England in 1824, Laing prepared a narrative of his journeys, which was published in 1825" (Wikipedia). Rebacked. Provenance: Pictorial bookplate (sailing ship) " Sapiens ubicunque est peregrinatur. Just[us] Lipsius" of Colonel Ph. Milon on the front pastedown. Philippe Milon was a French colonial officer in Africa (Madagascar), an ardent environmentalist and amateur ornithologist. In 1962 he became chairman of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). He played a major role in the creation of the LPO magazine L'Homme et l'Oiseau, which was founded in 1964 and became known for its fight against marine pollution, notably in 1967 after the Torrey Canyon oil spill. Rebacked with the original spine preserved; Some rubbing, in particular to the front top corner. Some - mostly marginal - foxing to the plates, the map a bit age-toned and with a short, marginal tear; otherwise a very good copy. Rare. Gay, 2845.