This is a very nice example of volume four of Prevost's history of voyages, with maps by Jacques Nicolas Bellin. This is the 1747 "Nouvelle Collection" published in Paris. The volume is divided into five sections and describes voyages to West Africa, with a focus on the Gold Coast, Benin, the Congo and Angola.

Included are folding maps of the Atlantic coast of Africa from Ivory Coast to Angola. Also included are 41 plates depicting views of forts and castles in Western Africa, local people and their customs, and indigenous animals both on land and in the sea. There are superb engravings of lions, scorpions, a camel, elephants, an ostrich, a gazelle, a cheetah, a crocodile, a porcupine, and numerous fish and sea creatures. The maps included are:

1. Suite de la Coste de Guinee Depuis le Cap Apollonia jusqu’a la Riviere de Volta ou la Coste d’Or (17.2 x 8.9”)
2. Plan du Fort Anglois et de la Ville du Cap de Corse (8.3 x 5.7”)
3. Suite de la Cost de Guinee Depuis la Riviere de Volta Jusqu’a Jakin ou Sont les Royaumes de Koto, de Popo, de Whidah ou Juida, et d’Ardra (10.7 x 8.1“)
4. Carte du Royaume de Juida, ou Whidah (10.6 x 8.2“)
5. Carte du Golfe de Benin (11.8 x 7.8“)
6. Carte du Golfe de Guinee et les Costes Comprises entre le Cap Formosa et le Cap de Lopes Consalvo (11 x 9.8”)
7. Carte de la Riviere de Kalbar (14.6 x 8.2”)
8. Carte des Royaumes de Congo Angola et Benguela (12.3 x 9.3“)
9. Cite de Loango, Tire de Dapper (11.7 x 8.7“)
10. Carte de l’Embouchure de la Riviere de Congo ou de Zayre (6.3 x 8.3")

Quarto. Letterpress title page printed in red and black; 648 pages; 10 maps; 41 plates of illustrations. Hardbound in full calf with raised bands, gilt tooling and gilt title on spine; marbled endpapers; all edges red; original green ribbon page marker.

References: Sabin #65402.

Condition: A

Generally excellent impressions on bright sheets, with occasional minor offsetting. The text is also clean and bright, with a few pages that are lightly toned and occasional minor spots. There is a very small gouge in the bottom edge of the text block that affects pages 500-550. The front and back free-endpapers are toned. The covers and spine have scuffs and light wear.