35 - DUGUAY-TROUIN (René).

DUGUAY-TROUIN (René). Memoirs of Monsieur Du Guay-Trouin, Lieutenant General of the French Naval Forces and Commander of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis. Amsterdam, Mortier, 1740. Quarto, marbled calfskin, decorated ribbed spine, triple gilt fillet framing the covers with gilt central coat of arms, gilt roulette on the edges (contemporary binding). A Dutch counterfeit of the genuine French first edition published on the same date. It is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author by Larmessin, a title band, an initial letter, a single plate, four fold-out plates engraved in intaglio by Le Bas, as well as a fold-out map of the bay and city of Rio de Janeiro drawn and engraved by Coquart. Du Guay-Trouin was undoubtedly one of the most famous naval officers of his time, serving from the late 17th to the early 18th century. In writing the manuscript of his memoirs—which he wished to be published only after his death—he sought to set the record straight regarding the naval battles that took place during his expeditions. A valuable copy bearing the gilded central coat of arms of Emmanuel Pinto de Fonséca, a Portuguese nobleman and the 68th Grand Master of the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. (Guigard, vol. 2, pp. 167.) Some minor wear or old repairs; a few minor interior flaws, including a water stain on the portrait.