Amédée-François Frezier | Relation du Voyage de la Mer du Sud, Amsterdam, 1717, 2 volumes, speckled calf gilt

Amédée-François Frezier

Relation du Voyage de la Mer du Sud aux cotes du Chili, du Perou, et du Bresil, fait pendant les années 1712, 1713 & 1714. Amsterdam: Pierre Humbert, 1717

2 volumes, 8vo (161 x 100mm.), plain engraved frontispiece, rubricated printed title page, printer's device of Pierre Humbert, Amsterdam, volume one: ornamental device at head of epistre and avertissement, explanation of marine terms; volume 2: table and addendum of Memoire...des Peres Jesuits; 38 plain engraved maps and plates, most folding (volume one: 23 plates; volume 2: 15 plates), full speckled calf, spines gilt with raised bands in 6 compartments with labels, red speckled edges, slight foxing, corners a little bumped, volume 1 with one page loose, volume 2 with some ink stains, bindings slightly rubbed

A fine copy of Frezier's account of his voyages around South America and charting the western coast and its fortifications, as well as describing the chief coastal towns and cities of Peru, Chile and Brazil, on order of the French government. He brought back information of geographical, scientific and military value, as well as fragaria chiloensis, the ancestor of the modern strawberry. Coincidentally, Frezier's surname derived from fraise, the French for strawberry. As well as his writings on the Americas, Frezier composed a treatise on fireworks (1706). The work was finely illustrated by the celebrated engraver Bernard Picart (1673-1733), and is most impressive for its detailed folding cartographical plates.

PROVENANCE:

Cornwell House, inkstamp