[Voyages around the world and famous shipwrecks. Travels in the Americas.] An interesting work concerning travels around the world - including four shipwrecks - by an eyewitness of the states' struggle for independence on the South American continent. 8 text vols. & atlas vol. 8vo. Contemporary half blue morocco, spine gilt in compartments and lettered in gold. Portrait of Captain Lafond de Lurey, 30 hand-coloured steel engraved plates "gommés" of different natives and costumes around the world, and 44 black and white plates, showing shipwrecks, life in other countries and the cruelties perpetrated by the natives, etc. (4), 422; (4), 432; (4) 430; (4), 423; (4), 432; (4), 423; (4), 415; (4) 440 pp. Re-issue of the fascinating series describing Lafond's travels and shipwrecks - initially published in 1843-44. Gabriel Lafond de Lurcy, a French explorer, was born in Lurcy Levy, Allier, on 25 March 1802; and died in Paris on 11 April 1876. He studied in Nantes and Moulins and was inspired by the reading of Cook and Bougainville. He entered the merchant navy in 1818. Four years later, he already had the command of a ship. For several years he traded with both Americas, but, after inheriting a large estate, he travelled more for pleasure than for mercantile purposes. During the years 1822-36, he visited Chili, Brazil, and Central America, where he was an eyewitness to the struggle for independence of the various states of the South American continent. In 1849 he became consul for Costa Rica in Paris and minister of the same republic in the following year, which post he held for twenty years. He was elected a member of the Geographical Society of Paris in 1851 and a corresponding member of the American geographical society in 1857. Among his other works Des Iles Marquises et des colonies de la France darts l'Amerique et l'Oceanie (Paris, 1842), and his Quinze ans de voyage autour du monde (2 vols., 1849) are the most important. The present work describes his voyages around the world: Vol. I & II: Travels to the Spanish Americas. Vol. III: To the Marquise Islands. Vol. IV: To the Sandwich Islands, the Philippines, and China. Vol. V: To China and the East Indies, including Malaysia, Malacca, and Singapore. Vol. VI: The shipwreck of the 'Drury' for Madagascar and other chapters on Africa. Vol. VII: The shipwreck of 'L'abercrombie-Robinson' and 'Waterloo' on the Cape of Good Hope. Vol XIII: The shipwreck of the brick 'La Nossa-Senhora-da-Conceiçao' of the coast of the Sahara and the stay in Morocco, the voyage and shipwreck at Polynesia, and the visit to Australia. Volume IX: Atlas. A fine set of a very attractively illustrated work.- (Some occasional browning and foxing). Coloured plates in order: 1. Madagascar, incendie d'un Village de Charhary. 2. Guatemala, Indiens du Guatemala. 3. Chine, Marchande de Chou - chou. 4. Chine. Supplice du Tcha ou Kangue. 5. Barbier Chinois. 6. Chine. L'Empereur allant a la Pagode. 7. Maison Marocaine, Appartement des Femmes. 8. Tonga - Tabou. Pugilat de Femmes. 9. Mexique. Metisses et Guerilleros du Mechcuacan. 10. Mexique. Hacendados (Riche Proprietaire) / Poblanas (Villagecises Metisses). 11. Mexique. Mendicante et Dames de Guadalaxara. 12. Iles Mariannes. Josefa Martines et Panchita Reynes. 13. Iles D'Otahiti, Sacrifice Humain. 14. Bagdad, Enlevement de Falme. 15. Iles Mariannes, l'Auteur & des Carolins a Gouaham. 16. Georges D'Arnouville & les Pirates du Golfe Persique. 17. Iles Marquises, Danse Caracteristique. 18. Iles Sandwich, Danse des Naturels. 19. Iles des Amis. Ouhila fille du grand Pretre de Tongatabou. 20. Perou. Pretre et Femmes de Lima. 21. Perou. Arrieros / Danse d'Indiens Aymaras. 22. Nouka - Hiva. Mascarades des Naturels. 23. Archipel de Holo. Enlevement de Dolores. 24. Mexique. Fernand Cortes et la Princesse Marina. 25. Chili. Guaso et Negres libres. 26. Bolivia. Meusses de Chuquisaca, Indiens moxos. 27. Macassar (Iles Celebes) Families Chinoises jouant au Tchonka. 28. S.A.R. Le Prince de Joinville a Magador. 29. Habitans de Manille. 30. Radama, Roi des Ovas & ses dan seuses Malgaches. 31. Marchand D'Esclaves a Timor (Malais).