TEMMINCK, Coenraad Jacob; Salomon MÜLLER Verhandelingen over de natuurlijke geschiedenis der Nederlandsche overzeesche bezittingen door de Leden der Natuurkundige Commissie in Indië en andere schrijvers; uitgegeven ... door C. J. Temminck. In commissie bij. S. en J. Luchtmans en C.C. van der Hoek, Leiden 1839-1844 [but 1839-1847] [41882]

First edition in book form. Folio. 86 plates on 85 sheets (1 double-page), some showing 2 subjects, including 19 hand-coloured lithographs, plus 5 unnumbered maps (1 double-page).

By far the most extensive and detailed work on the rich and diverse ethnography of the former Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Edited by the Dutch ornithologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck (1778-1858), this is largely the work of the German - later Dutch - zoologist Salomon Müller (1804-1863), who was employed by the Zoological Museum of Leiden.

The first volume of an important illustrated work on Indonesia, this one dealing with the ethnography, ethnology, scenery, topography and geography.

Bastin & Brommer pp14-17, n.265; Landwehr SDBCP 454; Colas 2158; Lipperheide 1492.

Only 255 copies were printed. Lacking in nearly all collections.

The first volume of a very rare and important illustrated work on Indonesia, this one dealing with the scenery and people. Subsequent volumes were issued on the fauna and flora of Indonesia. “what must rank, not least for variety of subject matter, as one of the finest nineteenth century illustrated books on Indonesia. This monumental folio work is concerned with the investigations by members of the Natural Sciences Commission which had been established in 1820. Though few in number, some of the best coloured plates are in the Land-en Volkenkunde volume. [with plates by] W. van Groenewoud, A.S. Mulder, W.J. Gordon, and T.C. Bruining after Pieter van Oort and others… of these plates 13 are of subjects relating to New Guinea, 10 are of Sulawesi, Ambon, Butung, Banda and Seram, 23 are of Timor, Roti, Solor and Savu, 14 are of Borneo, 22 are of Java, and 2 are of the Straits of Sunda and Sumatra.” - Bastin & Brommer passim.

A little spotting to text and black-and-white plates, publisher’s black half morocco gilt, joints neatly repaired, a very good copy.

Antique maps of the Netherlands
Old and Rare Books and Atlases
Antique maps of Southeast Asia