Volume II only (of four). 76 hand-colored engraved plates, including an additional title. Printed on cream and pale blue laid paper. 8¼x5¾, period calf.
Beautifully colored costume plates, including depictions of the natives of Patagonia, Finland, Florida, Greenland, Iceland, Istiria, Japan, Java, Jerusalem, Kamtschatka, Lapland, England, etc., plus Tartars, Hottentots, Hungarians and other far-flung peoples. Each plate or group of plates is accompanied by 4 to 16 pages of descriptive letterpress, giving the history, manners, customs, religions and other details of the lives of the subjects.
Condition:
Spine very worn and detaching; some overall rubbing and corners showing; scattered browning primarily affecting text; a few plates with closed tears at plate edge (one with portion of margin torn away), the plates generally crisp and clean, only a few with even browning; overall very good. Sold as a collection of plates, text not collated.