Travels in Europe, Africa and Asia, made between the Years 1770 and 1779, 4 Vols

Thunberg was a respected scientist and medical man who was employed in the latter capacity by the Dutch East India Company. After his arrival at the Cape, he focused on learning  Dutch during his three year stay, which was to stand him in good stead in Japan on the latter part of his travels. In September 1772, in the company of Auge, the superintendent of the Company garden, they journeyed to Saldanha Bay, east as far as the Gamtoos River and returned by way of the Little Karoo. Shortly after returning he met Francis Masson, who was collecting plants for the Royal Gardens at Kew, and who shared his interests. During his three expeditions in the interior, Thunberg collected a significant number of specimens of both flora and fauna.

The first two volumes contain the European travels and the South African material, while the last two are his experiences during a voyage to and around Japan, as well as to Java and Ceylon.

The volumes are in their contemporary scuffed marbled paper-covered boards with later calf half-binding. 317 + 316 + 285 (+31 pp Japanese vocabulary)  + 293 pp with 3 engraved plates. Good condition throughout, except for small hole in one page.