VARIOUS PROPERTIES
CHARLES DE BROSSES (1709-1777)
Details
CHARLES DE BROSSES (1709-1777)
Histoire des Navigations aux Terres Australes. Paris: J. Chardon for Durand, 1756. 2 volumes, 4° (275 x 205mm.). 6pp. of errata. 7 folding engraved maps by Robert de Vaugondy. (Some light browing.) Contemporary French mottled calf gilt, covers with triple fillet border, spines in six compartments with raised bands, green morocco lettering-piece in the second and third, the others with repeat decoration in gilt of various small tools around a central flower-spray tool, gilt turn-ins, comb-marbled endpapers (extremities rubbed, spines chipped, joints splitting). Provenance: Chateau de Valenay (armorial bookplates, ink stamps).
FIRST EDITION of this 'extremely important and thorough collection of voyages, and one of the outstanding works relating to the early history of Australasia. It contains an account of all voyages, beginning with the second expedition of Vespucci in 1502 and ending in 1747, in which navigators touched upon the supposed southern continent of Magellaniea, which is now represented by Australia and some scattered islands in the Antarctic regions... The work... is of special importance because de Brosses proposes that France should settle Australia with her foundlings, beggars, and criminals... His goal [in publishing this work] was to stimulate French discovery and colonization in the South Seas.' (Hill). Hill p.34; Spence 190. (2)
Histoire des Navigations aux Terres Australes. Paris: J. Chardon for Durand, 1756. 2 volumes, 4° (275 x 205mm.). 6pp. of errata. 7 folding engraved maps by Robert de Vaugondy. (Some light browing.) Contemporary French mottled calf gilt, covers with triple fillet border, spines in six compartments with raised bands, green morocco lettering-piece in the second and third, the others with repeat decoration in gilt of various small tools around a central flower-spray tool, gilt turn-ins, comb-marbled endpapers (extremities rubbed, spines chipped, joints splitting). Provenance: Chateau de Valenay (armorial bookplates, ink stamps).
FIRST EDITION of this 'extremely important and thorough collection of voyages, and one of the outstanding works relating to the early history of Australasia. It contains an account of all voyages, beginning with the second expedition of Vespucci in 1502 and ending in 1747, in which navigators touched upon the supposed southern continent of Magellaniea, which is now represented by Australia and some scattered islands in the Antarctic regions... The work... is of special importance because de Brosses proposes that France should settle Australia with her foundlings, beggars, and criminals... His goal [in publishing this work] was to stimulate French discovery and colonization in the South Seas.' (Hill). Hill p.34; Spence 190. (2)