Bell d'Antermony, Jean

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, 3 volumes, 12mo (165 x 90mm.), woodcut head- and tailpieces, folding map, contemporary mottled calf, spines gilt, morocco labels, minor repairs to spines, volume 3 label chipped, joints starting

Charles Marie de la Condamine (1701-1744), explorer, geographer, and mathematician, red stamp on all titles; Victor Sentin, signatures in ink on front and rear flyleaves

Lust 316; Löwendahl 528; Western Travellers in China 43

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FROM THE LIBRARY OF CHARLES MARIE DE LA CONDAMINE. "First French Edition of this account by John Bell (1691-1780), Scottish doctor and traveller... From 1719 to 1721 he accompanied Lev Vasilievitch Izmailov's embassy to China in the capacity of official physician, passing through Siberia and the great Tartar deserts. He had scarcely rested from this last journey when he was summoned to attend Peter the Great in his expedition to Derbend and the Caspian Gates. In 1738 he was sent by the Russian government on a mission to Constantinople, returning in May to St. Petersburg" (Western Travellers in China).  "[His] writings about China marked a decisive shift away from the once-dominant tradition of writing about China from a Catholic standpoint - whether explicit or implicit" (Löwendahl).