Travels from the Cape of Good Hope, into the Interior Parts of Africa [in Two Volumes] Vaillant, Francois le [Levaillant]; Helme, Elizabeth (translator) Africa,Natural History,Travel

First English edition of Vaillant's Travels from the Cape of Good Hope, into the Interior Parts of Africa (Voyage dans l'intérieur de l'Afrique, 1790) complete with all 12 plates (including the two frontispieces), two of which are folding and one of which is the double plate of a male and female giraffe and is listed as a single plate in the directions to the binder, but could equally be counted as two seperate plates. Vaillant was born in Dutch Guiana (Surinam) in 1753 to French parents and developed a fascination with flora and fauna early in life, he moved to France with his family in 1763, remaining in Europe until 1780 when he returned to Africa with the Dutch East India Company and completed a number of expeditions to study the birds and animals in their natural habitats. The two books he wrote about his travels were hugely successful in Europe. With a preface by the author and a preface and a dedication to the Duke of Montagu by the translator, pp. xxvi, 442; [iv], 464. First English Edition. Bound in contemporary half calf over marbled paper covered boards with red labels to the spine, five raised bands. Octavo In fair condition, leather cracked and hinges split with front board of Vol I detached, edges and corners considerably worn, name on half-title of Vol II, some foxing mostly to the preliminary and rear pages, pages otherwise clean, textblocks firm.