190. LA PEROUSE, Jean Francois de Galaup, comte de (1741-1788).
Voyage de La Perouse autour du Monde Paris: de l'Imprimerie de la Republique, 1797. 5 volumes (text: 4 vols., 4to [11 1/2 x 9_ inches; 295 x 225 mm.]; atlas of plates, 1 vol., folio [?22 x 16 1/2 inches; 560 x 420 mm.]). Text: half-titles. (Occasional small marginal tears.) Atlas: engraved title, 69 engraved maps and plates, many folding. (Occasional small marginal tears.) Contemporary brown half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, spines gilt. Condition: Title of atlas creased, occasional small marginal tears to text and atlas; spines neatly rebacked preserving the original spines.
an excellent copy of the first edition of “one of the finest narratives of maritime exploration ever written” (Howell). “La Perouse's Voyage is one of the great documents of French exploration in the Pacific Ocean. In addition to a detailed account of the expedition, these volumes contain a wealth of geographic and cartographic data. The beautiful atlas, with its finely engraved maps, charts, and plates, includes a detailed chart of San Francisco Bay, the first representation of the crested quail, and several plates and maps of the harbors at Monterey and San Diego, as wella s two charts and one view of the Sandwich Islands, It is a magnificent production” (Howell). Barrett 1435; Ferguson 268; Forbes Hawaiian National Bibliography 272; Graff 2397; Hill p.173; Howes L93.
est. $10000 – £15000