Voyage de la Corvette l'Astrolabe execute par ordre du roi, pendant les annees 1826-1827-1828-1829.

£110,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

rarely found complete Extremely rare and desirable set of the first edition of d'Urville's voyage in the Astrolabe. The zoology section was produced by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard. The 31 fine plates of birds are engraved, printed in colours, and often finished by hand. The artists included Prêtre, Prévost, and Oudart, widely regarded as some of the finest bird artists of their time. As well as the superb plates, 'the general indices in vol. iii are also of importance for the use of ornithological matter of the work in which a number of new species of birds are described' (Anker). This important voyage was one in a great series undertaken by the French government in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries for scientific and political purposes. Led by Jules Dumont d'Urville, its intention 'was to gain additional information about the principal groups of islands in the Pacific and to augment the mass of scientific data acquired by Louis Duperrey. The Astrolabe sailed south, around the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at Port Jackson. Proceeding to New Zealand, its coast, especially the southern part of Cook Strait, was surveyed with great care. Tonga and parts of the Fiji Archipeligo were explored, then New Britain, New Guinea, Amboina, Tasmania, Vanikoro, Guam and Java. The return home was by way of Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope. Huge amounts of scientific materials were collected and published' (Hill). First edition. A complete set, comprisi

• Binding: Hardcover

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