STAVORINUS (Jan Splinter). Voyage par le Cap de Bonne Espérance dans l'archipel des Molucques de 1768 à 1771 et de 1774 à 1778. Paris, 1805; 3 vol. in-8 (192 x 121 mm), shagreened basane, smooth spines decorated with gilt fleurons (contemporary bindings). Translated from the Dutch. 2nd edition greatly enlarged. Squadron leader of the Republic of the United Provinces, Stavorinus, reduced to inactivity by the peace, obtained the command of a vessel of the Dutch East India Company. Each of his two voyages lasted three years. The first was devoted to the Cape of Good Hope, the island of Java, Batavia, Banten and Bengal. It was in Batavia that he witnessed the arrival of Captain Cook on the Endeavour, on his return from his first voyage to the Pacific; in Banten, he was received by the king, dined at court and noted the etiquette; he lingered on Java, describing its beauty and riches: rice, sugar, coffee, indigo... and the customs of the inhabitants. The second voyage deals with the other Dutch colonies in Indonesia, the islands of Celebes, Ambon, Buton and Selayar. Plan of Batavia, three maps (navigation from Batavia to Ambon, the island of Grand Java, map of the western arm of the Ganges) and 4 plates including two repl. views of the castle of Batavia, the elegant façade frequented by Europeans and the rear side, with the timber yard where the blacks work. A very fine copy.