Travel - LA PÉROUSE (Jean-François Galaup de). VOYAGE DE LA - Lot 116

Travel - LA PÉROUSE (Jean-François Galaup de). VOYAGE DE LA PEROUSE AUTOUR DU MONDE. Paris, de l'Imprimerie de la République, An V (1797). 4 volumes in-4° and 1 atlas in folio, glazed blond calf, wide gilt lace on covers with gilt arms in center, gilt inner border, smooth spine decorated, gilt edges (period binding). First edition of the second most famous expedition of the 18th century. La Pérouse set sail in 1785 with the frigates "Astrolabe" and "Boussole", bound for the Pacific Ocean and North America. Following in Cook's footsteps, he was to continue his exploration of certain areas of the Pacific and identify their commercial potential. He visited Chile, Easter Island, the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, California, Macao, Manila, and the China and Japanese seas. In June 1788, the 2 ships broke up on the Vanikoro reefs in the Santa Cruz Islands. The atlas contains an engraved title and 69 magnificent plates, all protected by a silk serpente (maps, coastal plans, natural history, scenes of manners, native costumes, etc.), all engraved in intaglio after drawings by La Martinière, Prévost, Duché de Vancy and Ozanne. The text volumes are printed on strong blue paper, with the portrait in the first volume. EXEMPLAIRE AUX ARMES NAPOLEONIENNES (O.H.R. pl. 2652, très proche du fer 8 pour l'atlas et le fer 7 identique pour les volumes de texte). Minor wear to headpieces, spine of atlas damaged and missing, corners dulled. (Chadenat, n°106) (Sabin, n°38960) (En français dans le texte, n°199).