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From the library of Empress Marie-Louise Duchess of Parma, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte

SACK, Baron Albert von.
Beschreibung einer Reise nach Surinam und des Aufenthaltes daselbst in den Jahren 1805, 1806, 1807, so wie von des Verfassers Rückkehr nach Europa über Nord-Amerika. (Vol. 2:) Beschreibung einer Reise nach Surinam und des Aufenthaltes daselbst in den Jahren 1810, 1811, 1812, so wie von des Verfassers Rückkehr nach Europa über Nord-Amerika.

Vol. I: Engraved title with large vignette by S. Middiman after W.M. Craig, frontispiece, map of Surinam 'nach M.A. de Laveaux entworfen' (here bound in vol. 2), and 4 full-page engraved plates (numbered I-IV); Nrs. II and IV by J. Pye after W.M. Craig, from the first English translation which had been published in 1810 in London by Nicol; vol II: engraved title, frontispiece, full-page engraved map of the interior of Surinam by F. Guimpel, and 4 full-page engraved plates, two of which by Lud. Meyer after W.M. Craig (numbered V-XI); some tables in text.

Berlin, in der Haude und Spenerschen Buchhandlung, 1821. 2 vols. Large 4to (235 x 287 mm). Contemporary half red morocco with gilt spine with title lettered in gold, crowned gilt monogram of Marie Louise in centre of both sides, which are covered with red paper. Vol. I: Engraved title with large vignette by S. Middiman after W.M. Craig, frontispiece, map of Surinam 'nach M.A. de Laveaux entworfen' (here bound in vol. 2), and 4 full-page engraved plates (numbered I-IV); Nrs. II and IV by J. Pye after W.M. Craig, from the first English translation which had been published in 1810 in London by Nicol; vol II: engraved title, frontispiece, full-page engraved map of the interior of Surinam by F. Guimpel, and 4 full-page engraved plates, two of which by Lud. Meyer after W.M. Craig (numbered V-XI); some tables in text. XVIII, 240; XXX, 186 pp.

Second German edition, uncut and with wide margins, of this illustrative account of two journeys to Suriname and, on his way back to Europe, the east coast of America. The first German edition was published in Berlin in 1818. The first part, although originally written in German, was in fact first published in English with the title: A Narrative of a voyage to Surinam ... (Sabin 74750). A Dutch translation of this first part appeared in Haarlem, also in 1821. The account is in the form of 17 letters to an unknown addressee. It includes also an interesting account of the author's visit to Barbados and the cities of the east coast of America, and an Appendix of 18 pages describing the plants, animals, birds, reptiles, etc. of Surinam.

The frontispiece (nr. II), depicting the ship Jason with a dolphin hunting for a flying fish and plate IV of a black slave sowing cotton plants, of vol. 1 are taken from the first English edition from 1810. The other plates are engraved in Berlin and depict a.o. the Governors house in Paramaribo (nr. V: vignette on title of vol. 2), the steamer Phoenix of the second journey with a view of the city of Philadelphia in the back ground and two Indians in the foreground (nr. VI), the map of the interior of Surinam (nr. VII), the flora and fauna of Suriname (nrs. VIII-IX), and two plates of a steamer: plan and side view (nrs. X-XI).
Sebastian Albert Freiherr von Sack (died: Berlin 1828), from 1821 on Count von Sack, was a royal chamberlain, a knight of St. John, but above all an explorer who liked to travel. He made his first journey (described in vol. 1) to Suriname in 1805. From there he went to North-America in 1807, where he visited the cities Providence, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC and Alexandria. He made his return-journey to Germany via New York and Lisbon. Sack's second journey to Surinam (described in vol. II) started in 1810 and ended in England 1812. In this second volume he a.o. describes the climate, topography and geography of Suriname, its inhabitants, including the Indians and 'bosnegers', the trade with foreign countries from 1700 to 1784, adding many interesting observations on slavery.
Both parts are very interesting accounts of two long voyages including many letters, accounts of other authors, digressions on poisonous snakes, the yellow fever, Indians in northern America and steamships.

What makes our copy special is that it once belonged to the library of Empress Marie Louise, later Duchess of Parma, the second wife of Napoleon I Bonaparte (Vienna 1791- Parma 1847). With her crowned initials on front- and backcover of each volume. She was the mother of Napoleon II, King of Rome. Her library may be considered one of the finest ever collected by an individual collector. As Duchess of Parma, Marie Louise continued to collect books with undiminished energy and developed her collection into one of the most beautiful libraries ever privately owned by any monarch.

Very fine copy on large paper with a very interesting provenance.- (The 16 pp. introduction of M. Breslauer's catalogue tipped in in first volume).

Sabin 74749, note; Tiele 953; Martin Breslauer, Verzeichnis 50: Naturwissenschaften und Reisen aus der Bibliothek der Kaiserin Marie Louise (1933), 1134.

Related Subjects: 19th Century Geography Geography & Demography Surinam Topography Trade Transport Travel & Voyages

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