[BOURGOING, Jean François de].
Nouveau voyage en Espagne, ou tableau de l'état actuel de cette monarchie.
Paris, chez Regnault, 1789. 3 volumes. 8vo. Volume 1 with a folding general map of Spain coloured in outline (23.8 x 28.4 cm) as a frontispiece, a folding plan of Madrid (23 x 33.8 cm), both engraved by P.F. Tardieu, 4 folding and 2 full-page engraved plates; volume 3 with a folding plan of Cadiz by Tardieu and 3 folding engraved plates. Contemprary gold-tooled mottled calf. [1], [1 blank], IV, 368, [1], [1 blank]; [1], [blank], [1], [1 blank], 382; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 404, [2] pp.
€ 1,250
Second issue of the first edition of a travel account of Spain, containing a new, accurate and comprehensive view of the then-present state of the country. It contains, among other things, details about the politics, economy, new establishments such as banks, habits, literature, the siege of Gibraltar, and the journey of the Count of Artois. It is finely illustrated with a map of Spain, plans of Madrid and Cadiz and folding views of the passage of Bidessoa, Segovia, the aqueduct at Segovia, the palace of St. Ildefonse, Aranjuez, Cathedral of Sevilla, and Gibraltar, and full-page plates of the statues of Charles V and Philippe IV.
The author, Baron Jean François de Bourgoing (1748-1811) was the French ambassador in Madrid and a keen analyst of both politics and finance. Foulché-Delbosc and Palau mention a first edition of 1788, but our edition of 1789 is identical except for the title. Later editions appeared under the title Tableau de l'Espagne moderne, with the name of the author on the title page.
The bindings show slight signs of wear, mainly around the hinges of the boards, occasional minor foxing. Otherwise in very good condition. Cat. Goldsmith 13762; Foulché-Delbosc, Bibl. des voyages en Espagne et en Portugal, 189; Kress B. 1544; cf. Palau 34055 (1788 edition).
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