LAFAYETTE EN AMÉRIQUE, EN 1824 ET 1825, OU JOURNAL D'UN VOYAGE AUX ETATS-UNIS de Levasseur, A[uguste] - 1829

Paris: Librairie Baudouin, 1829. First Edition. Narrative of Levasseur's travels with the Marquis de Lafayette during his last visit to the United States, from July 1824 - September 1825. During that period, the French general and hero of the American Revolution had been the "Nation's Guest," received with affection and admiration in each of the thirteen states he had visited thus far. Cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington showered tribute upon Lafayette in the form of banquets, balls, processions, and ceremonies...Although occasionally marred by inaccuracies, Levasseur's writings remain the most complete eyewitness account of the historic visit" (Turner, Martha L. "Lafayette's Tour of Georgia: The Observations of Auguste Levasseur." The Georgia Historical Quarterly Vol.68, No.4 (Winter, 1984), pp.558-559). Howes L-301, Sabin 40735. First Impression, preceding all other translations. Two octavo volumes (21.75cm); bound in full tan polished calf by Bayntun, spines in six compartments, with five raised bands, titling and floral devices stamped in gilt in compartments; marbled endpapers and gilt dentelles; top edges gilt; [4],iv,509; [iv],632pp; with 11 gravure plates and folding map of the United States (title page calls for 12, but only 11 were issued); text is entirely in French. Old, faint staining to preliminary and terminal pages in both volumes; some occasional scattered foxing to margins; pinpoint wear to bindings; folding map is clean and unrepaired, tipped onto terminal leaf in Vol.1, with some shallow losses to left corners.