La Perouse | Voyage ... autour du Monde. Paris, 1791, first edition, 5 volumes: 4 text and one atlas

Jean Francois Galaup de la Perouse

Voyage de la Perouse Autour du Monde. Paris: L'imprimerie de la République, 1797

FIRST EDITION, 5 volumes, comprising 4 text volumes 4to (290 x 215mm.), and folio atlas volume (615 x 443mm.)

text: engraved portrait frontispiece in volume one, 4 half-titles, contemporary mottled calf gilt, spines gilt with red morocco labels, marbled edges, marbled endpapers, some spotting and light dampstaining to preliminaries, extremities slightly rubbed

atlas: engraved allegorical frontispiece, and 69 plates and maps, original blue boards, printed paper label to spine, leaves uncut, light spotting, extremities rubbed

A FINE COPY of the account of La Pérouse's oceanic expedition, along with an atlas containing 69 maps and plates, comprising one folding world map, 15 double page maps (including fine maps of the whole Pacific, with the Americas and east Asia; the northern Pacific, and the coasts of east Asia and northern North America; several focused maps of the coast of northwestern America, and of the eastern coast of China, Russia and contemporary Tartary; and the coast of Japan), 18 further maps and plans, and 35 plates depicting natural flora, fauna and features, views and the indigenous population. La Pérouse's expedition explored those regions not covered by Cook, visiting Easter Island, Hawaii, Macao, Formosa, the Aleutian Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Australia, in order to locate an oceanic passage, make scientific observations, and perform research into trade and colonial settlement.

La Pérouse sent his dispatches back to France from Kamchatka and Botany Bay, but after departing from Botany Bay the expedition was never heard from again. Although a search party was sent out under the command of Entrecasteaux, it was not until 39 years later, that the wrecks were found in Vanikoro.

LITERATURE:

Borba de Moraes p. 449; Ferguson 251; Hill (2004) 972; Sabin 38960