Relation du voyage a la recherche de La Pérouse,

A$15,000 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Limited edition

fait par ordre de l’Assemblée Constituante, pendant les années 1791, 1792, et pendant la 1ere et la 2me année de la République Francoise. Paris : Chez H. J. Jansen, an VIII de la République Francoise [1800]. Two volumes quarto plus atlas folio, the two text volumes in early quarter papered boards with gilt-lettered calf spines (corners bumped, spines rubbed, joints split, but solid), a few spots of light foxing. Vol 1: pp. xvi; 442; vol 2: 332; 113, [errata]; folio atlas in contemporary green papered boards, spine in modern morocco lettered in gilt : engraved title page, 44 plates after Piron and Redoute including a double page map, pale water stain to lower portion of several plates, a very good, complete set. First edition of this account by Labillardière of d’Entrecasteaux’ voyage in search of La Pérouse. Three years after last contact was made with La Pérouse at Botany Bay, the official search expedition under D’Entrecasteaux set sail from Brest to discover his fate. In addition to this prime objective were instructions to survey coastlines, obtain natural history specimens, and gain further scientific data on the islands of the Pacific. The naturalist on the voyage was Labillardière, who along with artist Piron recorded numerous specimens in Van Diemen’s Land, south-west New Holland (including famously the first detailed study of the black swan), Tonga, New Guinea and New Caledonia. The expedition spent two years searching and studying in the southern ocean before sickne

• Binding: Hardcover

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