Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse | Voyage… autour du monde. Paris, 1797, 5 volumes in all (4 text and an atlas)

Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse

Voyage... autour du Monde, publié... et rédigé par M.L.A.Milet-Mureau. Paris: l'Imprimerie de la République, 1797

FIRST EDITION, 5 volumes in all, comprising: 4 text volumes, 4to (290 x 218 mm), plus one atlas volume, folio (578 x 421 mm), text: half-titles and engraved author portrait; atlas: engraved allegorical title-page and 69 engraved charts and plans, many double-page or folding, text volumes bound in contemporary red half morocco over marbled boards, atlas volume bound in modern maroon half morocco in period style with new endpapers, allegorical title of atlas volume with repaired closed tear at inner margin, some plates with creasing, lower boards starting on text volumes

After the disappointment of Kerguelen's failure this expedition was the looked-for success in answer to the voyages of Cook, and the first to be published on the grand scale that came to characterize the results of the major French and American Northwest. His instructions were to explore those regions not covered by Captain Cook, to seek out an interoceanic passage, make scientific observations, obtain reliable information on the fur trade, and the extent of the Spanish settlements in California. The expedition visited Easter Island, Hawaii, Macao, Formosa, the Aleutian Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Australia. La Pérouse sent his dispatches back to France from Kamchatka and Botany Bay, but after departing from Botany Bay, the expedition was never heard from again. Thirty-nine years later, in 1825, the wrecks of the two frigates were found at Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz group by Peter Dillon.

LITERATURE:

Ferguson 251; Hill (2004) 972; Sabin 38960; Borba de Moraes p.449