GRASSET DE SAINT-SAUVEUR (Jacques). Encyclopédie des voyages, contenant l'abrégé historique des mœurs, usages, habitudes domestiques, religions, fêtes, supplices, funérailles, sciences, arts et commerce de tous les peuples. Paris, chez l'auteur et Deroy, 1796. 5 volumes in-4, blue paper boards, untrimmed (contemporary binding). First edition. This work, published in installments, is divided into four parts devoted respectively to Europe, Africa, America and Asia, each including a preliminary discourse, a table of plates and a variable number of explanatory notes. Born in Montreal, Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur (1757-1810) moved to France in 1764 to become a diplomat and vice-consul in Hungary and Cairo, as well as a writer in the encyclopaedic spirit of the 18th century, draughtsman and engraver. This set includes 431 delicately watercoloured plates, engraved from the author's drawings by Labrousse and Laroque, including 4 frontispieces and 427 civil, military and religious costumes and dignitaries from the four continents. The work should contain 432 coloured plates, according to the title - a figure taken up by most bibliographers, although others require fewer, such as Lipperheide and Colas (428 plates and 4 frontispieces) or Monglond (421 plates); however, the table of plates announces that some twenty plates are missing from this copy (list on request and on www.alde.fr). Some foxing in the text, boards worn, spines missing. Colas, n°1292 - Lipperheide, Ac 11 - Brunet, II, 1711 - Monglond, III, 756 - Sabin, n°75487.