Frézier, Amédée-François (1682-1773).

Estimate

500 - 700 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Relation du voyage de la Mer du Sud aux cotes du Chily et du Perou, fait pendant les annees 1712, 1713 and 1714. Paris: Jean-Geoffrey Nyon, Etienne Ganeau & Jacques Quillau, 1716

4to (255 x 192mm.), [3], iv-xiv, [3], 2-298, [2]pp., illustration: 37 engraved maps, plans and plates (18 folding), binding: eighteenth-century calf, spine gilt in compartments, brown morocco lettering-piece, very light damp-staining to preliminaries, light spotting, tear in fore-margin of a3 repaired, binding slightly rubbed

Literature

Nissen ZBI 1433; Sabin 25924; Hill, p.115

Catalogue Note

first edition. Dispatched by the French government to chart the western coast of South America, Frézier described the chief coastal towns and cities of Chile and Peru. He brought back information of geographical, scientific and military value, as well as fragaria chiloensis, ancestor of the modern strawberry. It is an interesting coincidence that Frézier's surname was itself derived from fraise, the French for strawberry. As well as his writings on the Americas, Frézier composed a treatise on fireworks (1706).