[Bougainville, Louis Antoine, Comte de] | The first official French circumnavigation—and the first to include a woman

[Bougainville, Louis Antoine, Comte de]

Voyage autour du monde, par la fregate du roi la Boudeuse et la flute l'Etoile; en 1766, 1767, 1768 & 1769. Paris: Saillant & Nyon, 1771

4to (248 x 190 mm). Half-title, woodcut title vignette, 20 engraved folding maps and 3 engraved plates of vessels; only occasional very faint browning more so on edge of one map. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt spine; joints restored, tail of spine skillfully restored.

First edition of Bougainville's account of the first official French circumnavigation and the first to include a woman.

Bougainville, a former aide-de-camp to Montcalm at Quebec, founded a French settlement on the Falkland Islands in January 1764. In order to avert trouble between Spain and France, Bougainville was requested to remove the settlement and was offered the governorship of Mauritius in compensation, which he traded for this voyage round the world. The voyage across the Pacific touched the Tuamotu archipelago and Tahiti (Ahutoru, a Tahitian, was taken back to France), went on to Samoa, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands and the previously unknown Loisaida Archipelago.

The adventurous mistress of the ship's botanist accompanied him, disguised as his valet.

REFERENCES:

Hill 163; Sabin 6864

PROVENANCE:

James Smith (armorial bookplate and ownership inscription to title verso)