REBOULET Simon Mémoires du comte de Forbin, chef d’escadre, chevalier de l’ordre militaire de Saint Louis.

Brunet, 23810 (1730 or 1740 edition); Cordier, Bibliotheca Indosinica, col. 945 (for the original 1729 edition).

Beautiful edition, the second, of the famous memoirs of Forbin, written by Simon Reboulet and P. Comte according to Forbin’s papers. It is adorned with a beautiful engraved frontispiece showing the count of Forbin dressed as an admiral of Siam.

Claude de Forbin (1656-1733) entered the navy with the help of his uncle and quickly distinguished himself, taking part in the campaigns in America and New Spain in the 1680’s. “The many proofs of courage and intrepidity he gave in these campaigns earned him the rank of lieutenant. In 1685, the Chevalier de Forbin was appointed major of the embassy sent to the King of Siam” (Hoefer).

His memoirs cover the years between 1675 and 1710 and include details of the mission to Siam between 1685 and 1688 where Forbin was appointed governor of Bangkok and given the title of general of the Siamese army. The description of this famous embassy occupies pages 73 to 266 of the first volume.

This work was a great success, Girardi published four editions, in 1729, 1730, 1739 and 1748.

Binding slightly rubbed, small worm gallery on the spine of the first volume, otherwise a good copy.

Provenance: Dukes of Rohan-Chabot (arms on the corners of the covers, library label on the back).