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French victory in Colombia

POINTIS, Jean Bernard Louis Desjeans.
Relation de l'expedition de Carthagene, faite par les François en M.DC.XCVII.

With woodcut vignette on title, several woodcut borders and initials, two very large engraved folding maps by Le Pautre.

Amsterdam, Heirs Antoine Schelte, 1698. 12mo. Modern mottled calf, spine ribbed and gilt in compartments, red morocco title label, red and brown sprinkled edges. With woodcut vignette on title, several woodcut borders and initials, two very large engraved folding maps by Le Pautre. [8], 143, [1] pp.

First edition of a curious account on an attack on Carthagena in Colombia, by Jean Bernard Louis Desjean Baron de Pointis (1645-1707). In 1696 he presented a memoir to Louis XIV, in which he proposed an attack on Carthagena, and was authorized to form a company which should provide for the expenses of the expedition inconsideration of receiving half the profits. He sailed from Brest, 9 January, 1697, and was joined in Santo Domingo by Ducasse, the governor of Tortuga, at the head of 600 buccaneers. He arrived at Carthagena on 12 April, and, landing three miles from the city, summoned it to surrender; but the Spaniards refused, and the French were driven back in several attacks. But finally the city capitulated on condition that the buccaneers should not enter. But they learned that Pointis tried to keep them out of their share of the plunder, and, although Ducasse restrained them for some time, they finally entered Carthagena, and pillaged and burned for three days. After destroying the fortifications of the place, the French re-embarked on 1 June, and, defeating two English fleets, anchored in Brest, 29 August, 1697. A medal was struck in commemoration of the expedition. In his book, Pointis has a lot of comment, especially on his allies, hired soldiers, and buccaneers, whom he calls cowards, pirates, mutineers, rabble, etc. The copies of this first edition, completed by the two large folding maps, of which the one depicting the encounter between the French and English navy is described by Chadenat as "extrémement curieuse et fort rare", are very difficult to find.
With woodcut vignette on title, several woodcut borders and initials, and two very large engraved folding maps, the first entitled "Rencontre de l' escadre de France et de l' armée anglaise et la route que fit le baron de Pointis dans sa retraite" (36.5 x 51 cm) and the second "Plan de la ville et rade de Cartagene et de ses forts" (35.5 x 73.5 cm), both engraved by le Pautre, Architecque et graveur Ordinaire du Roy.

Fine copy of an extremely rare edition.

Chadenat "très rare" 1705 (only one plate mentioned), 3330, 5440, 6399 (imitation of this copy); Sabin 63700; JCB p. 375; European Americana 698/169; Leclerc (1867) 1187; Palau 230094; Cox II, p. 437 (other editions).

Related Subjects: America, North Cartography Militaria Voyages

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