Books and Manuscripts

(Nicolson, Jean-Barthelemy-Maximilien)
Essai sur l'histoire naturelle de l'isle de Saint-Domingue
Paris: Chez Gobreau, 1776. First edition. 8vo. (ii), xxxi, (i), 374, (2) pp. Illustrated with 10 engraved folding plates by Moithey Laine. Full speckled tan paper-covered boards, red paper spine label, stamped in gilt, boards and extremities rubbed; red speckled edges; contemporary ownership signature at head of title-page. Sabin 55259

French missionary and naturalist Jean-Barthelemy-Maximilien Nicolson's (1743-73) work on Haiti, covering many aspects of the territory, then known as Saint-Domingue, including flora, fauna, and topics related to ethnography and archaeology. Nicolson served as a Dominican superior in Léogâne from 1769 until his death, and this text was published posthumously by royal command of Louis XV. A scarce work that has been referred to as a valuable supplement to Pierre-François-Xavier de Charlevoix's work Histoire de l'isle Espagnole ou de S. Domingue (1730).

This is the first copy we can locate offered at auction since 1984.