LA PÉROUSE (Jean-François de Galaup de). Voyage autour du mo - Lot 69

LA PÉROUSE (Jean-François de Galaup de). Voyage autour du monde, publié conformément au décret du 22 avril 1791, et rédigé par M. L. A. Milet-Mureau Paris, Imprimerie de la République, an V (1797). 4 volumes of text in-4 and 1 atlas in-folio, pastiche shagreened basane, smooth ornate spine, red title page and green tomaison, gilt roulette framing the boards (spine ends, corners and edges slightly rubbed, spine faded, very slight marginal defects including scattered freckling in the text volumes, and small losses on pl. 7 and 53 not affecting the illustration, qq. maps creased at the folds). First edition of this important account of La Pérouse's maritime voyage exploring the Pacific. It comprises four quarto volumes of text, with a portrait of La Pérouse engraved by Tardieu as frontispiece to the first volume, and an atlas illustrating the voyage. This atlas contains a title-frontispiece designed by Moreau and engraved by Trière, as well as 69 plates, including a large fold-out world map, 20 double-page maps, 10 full-page maps and 38 plates illustrating views, coastal surveys, natural history elements, scenes of daily life, as well as costumes and portraits of natives. All plates are copper-engraved by Le Pagelet, Thomas, Godefroy, Choffard, Avril and Legrand, after compositions by Duché de Vancy, Blondela, Prévost and La Martinière, among others. "Edition executed at the imprimerie Nationale, it contains the first printing of the plates, which are very fine proofs" (Chadenat). The atlas includes a second copy of the frontispiece from Volume 1. La Pérouse was chosen by Louis XVI to undertake a major scientific voyage, aimed at expanding geographical knowledge, particularly in the Pacific Ocean. The expedition explored various regions of the Pacific, including Alaska, California, Japan, Korea and Australia. Unfortunately, after leaving Botany Bay, Australia, in 1788, the expedition disappeared. As La Pérouse and his crew never returned, Milet-Mureau was given access to the logbooks, letters and maps that had been sent to France during the expedition. He then compiled these materials into this published version. Milet-Mureau's edition presents the essence of the original observations, while structuring them into a coherent narrative. Collation: I. [3] f. (title fx., frontis., title), LXXII-346 p. - Vol. II. [2] f. (title fx., title), 398 p., [1] f. (impr.) - III. [2] f. (fx. title, title), 422 p., [1] f. (impr.) - IV. [2] f. (fx. title, title), 309 p [1] blank f. - Atlas. frontis, engraved title, 69 pl. (pl. 47-49 are bound after pl. 52). (Chadenat, I, 106; Sabin 38960; Brunet III, 828).