[Travel - Navy]. PREVOST (Abbot). General history of travels, or new collection of all the relations of travels by sea and by land, which have been published until now in the different languages of all known nations. Followed by : Continuation of the general history of travels. Paris, Amsterdam, Didot, Panckoucke, Arkstrée, 1746-1770. 19 volumes in-4°, marbled calf, spines decorated, red edges (Binding of the time). First edition of this true travel encyclopedia, it is according to Chadenat "the indispensable basis of any American library", as much for the numerous travel reports, documents, as for its abundant illustration. This copy is decorated with a portrait of the author in frontispiece and 584 MAGNIFICENT OFF-TEXT FIGURES, INCLUDING 228 MAPS OR PLANS most of them folding or double-page, engraved on Cochin's drawings and offering views of cities, types of Indians, scenes of manners, natural history, world map... Volume XX is missing, as often. Dark aureoles on several boards, minor defects on spines, restored headpieces, wetness and rings on many leaves (pronounced on 2 volumes), scattered foxing, several pages browned, qq. tears without missing. (Chadenat, n°1188 - Brunet IV, 868).