First edition of Sir John Barrow’s A Voyage to Cochinchina (1806)

This 1806 first edition of Sir John Barrow’s A Voyage to Cochinchina is notable because it combines two entirely unrelated geographical accounts into a single work.

Two Continents in One Volume: While the primary text details Barrow’s 1792–1793 diplomatic voyage to Vietnam (Cochinchina) under Lord Macartney, the annex contains the first published English account of the 1801–1802 Truter-Somerville expedition to Dithakong (referred to here as the "Booshuana Nation" / Tswana) in the interior of South Africa.

Masterwork Illustrations: The volume is highly prized for its aquatint plates, engraved by Thomas Medland and hand-coloured after original artwork by William Alexander and Samuel Daniell. Daniell’s illustrations of the Tswana people and South African wildlife in the annexed section remain some of the finest early European visual records of the region.

Diplomatic Significance: Barrow’s travel observations in Vietnam provided early intelligence to the British Crown and the East India Company regarding French military and trade influence in Southeast Asia.

225mm x 280mm x 45mm

Original gilded calf binding; however spine repaired; both boards have tide mark stains; corners bumped and partially repaired; offsetting from all plates to opposite pages; all foldout plates reinforced; selected foxing throughout.

Complete. All plates and maps present.

R37,500