[ANTILLES] [ROCHEFORT, Charles de]. Histoire naturelle et mo - Lot 97

[ANTILLES] [ROCHEFORT, Charles de]. Histoire naturelle et morale des Iles Antilles de l'Amérique. Enrichie de plusieurs belles figures des Raretez les plus considérables qui y sont d'écrites. Avec un vocabulaire Caraïbe. Roterdam, Arnould Leers, 1658. 1 vol. in-4. Modern vellum, double ribbed spine, gilt roulette on spine. Rare first edition of this important work on the geology and natural history of the West Indies, and on the culture and history of the inhabitants of the various islands. An engraved title, a medallion portrait-frontispiece by Jacques Amproux and 43 engravings of people, animals and plants, eleven of them full-page. With a French-Caribbean dictionary. One of the most important sources for knowledge of the Caribbean Indians and the original Antilles. According to some sources, the attribution to Rochefort is erroneous. It is probable that the original manuscript or materials were written by Louis de Poincy, whose initials are found in the preface, and that they were written by Rochefort. Missing title-piece and one piece at tail of spine. Smudging in upper margin from page 405. A few scattered stains in the text.