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Details
LA PÉROUSE, Jean-François (1741-1788?). Voyage de la Pérouse autour du monde. Paris: L'Imprimerie de la République, 1797.
‘A handsome first edition of “one of the finest narratives of maritime exploration ever written’ (Howell). La Pérouse, a veteran of the American Revolution and the Seven Years’ War, commanded the Astrolabe and the Boussole on a voyage of discovery into the Pacific. He disappeared at sea after setting out from Botany Bay in 1788; the ships were found wrecked on the reef of Vanikolo thirty-nine years later. This was the first French expedition to visit Alaska and the first non-Spanish European expedition to stay at the Spanish settlements in California. The voyage is especially celebrated for its superb mapping of the Alaskan and Californian coasts. Forbes 272; Hill 972; Howes L-93; Lada-Mocarski 52; Sabin 38960, Streeter sale 3493; Wickersham 6611; Zamorano 49.
Four text volumes, quarto (295 x 225mm) and one atlas volume, folio (592 x 441mm). Text: engraved portrait frontispiece in vol. 1, (lacking half-titles, but with final leaves with imprint in vols 1-3, some occasional scattered light spotting and browning, a few leaves with very small marginal chips and nicks). Contemporary green straight-grained morocco, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities light rubbed, heavier to headcaps with that to vol 4 frayed). Atlas: engraved title, 69 engravings comprising large double-page and folding world map, 20 double-page and 49 single-page maps, views and plates (light marginal dust-soiling to plate 3, faint browning to 6 plates with plate 38 more heavily affected). Modern green straight-grained half morocco. Provenance: Edward Smith Stanley, the 13th Earl of Derby (armorial bookplate to text vols, and ink inscription on flyleaves ‘Knowsley, Garden Library’ with associated classmarks).
‘A handsome first edition of “one of the finest narratives of maritime exploration ever written’ (Howell). La Pérouse, a veteran of the American Revolution and the Seven Years’ War, commanded the Astrolabe and the Boussole on a voyage of discovery into the Pacific. He disappeared at sea after setting out from Botany Bay in 1788; the ships were found wrecked on the reef of Vanikolo thirty-nine years later. This was the first French expedition to visit Alaska and the first non-Spanish European expedition to stay at the Spanish settlements in California. The voyage is especially celebrated for its superb mapping of the Alaskan and Californian coasts. Forbes 272; Hill 972; Howes L-93; Lada-Mocarski 52; Sabin 38960, Streeter sale 3493; Wickersham 6611; Zamorano 49.
Four text volumes, quarto (295 x 225mm) and one atlas volume, folio (592 x 441mm). Text: engraved portrait frontispiece in vol. 1, (lacking half-titles, but with final leaves with imprint in vols 1-3, some occasional scattered light spotting and browning, a few leaves with very small marginal chips and nicks). Contemporary green straight-grained morocco, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities light rubbed, heavier to headcaps with that to vol 4 frayed). Atlas: engraved title, 69 engravings comprising large double-page and folding world map, 20 double-page and 49 single-page maps, views and plates (light marginal dust-soiling to plate 3, faint browning to 6 plates with plate 38 more heavily affected). Modern green straight-grained half morocco. Provenance: Edward Smith Stanley, the 13th Earl of Derby (armorial bookplate to text vols, and ink inscription on flyleaves ‘Knowsley, Garden Library’ with associated classmarks).
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