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La Perouse, J. F. G. De; M. L. A. Milet-Mureau (ed.) A Voyage…
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Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
15-Jul-2018
Lot No.
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Description:
La Perouse, J. F. G. De; M. L. A. Milet-Mureau (ed.) A Voyage Round the World, in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, by J. F. G. De La Perouse: Published Conformably to the Decree of the National Assembly, of the 22d of April, 1791, and edited by M. L. A. Milet-Mureau. [J. Johnson; London, 1798] 3 volumes, lacking atlas folio. Octavo. Vol. I: x, 532pp. Vol. II: x, 498pp. Vol. III: viii, 446pp. followed by 60 page section 'Tables, Shewing the Course of L'Boussole, During the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, from the Time of the Ship's Sailing from Europe till its Arrival in Botany Bay' & 'Tables, Shewing the Course of L'Astrolabe, During the Years 1785, 1786, and 1787, from the Time of the Ship's Sailing from Europe till its Arrival in Kamtschatka.' Contemporary gold-ruled calf (faults); foxing affecting all plates and charts and some text pages. First English language edition of the account of La Perouse's ill-fated expedition. After the American Revolutionary War, King Louis XVI ordered an exploring voyage to rival that of Captain Cook. The objectives were geographic, scientific, ethnological, economic, political and to explore the North & South Pacific, including the coasts of the Far East & Australia. Jean-Francois de Galaup, comte de La Perouse was given command of 2 ships (Boussole & Astrolabe) which left France in 1785. After rounding Cape Horn in early 1786, they reached Hawaii in May the same year. After charting the shoreline they sailed towards California, arriving in Monterey on September 13, 1786. Less than 10 days later the ships set sail for China via the South Pacific, spending more than a year in Asian waters. La Perouse reached Australia in January 1788. Six weeks later both ships wrecked, hitting a coral reef off Vanikoro Island. According to the inhabitants of the Island, some surviving sailors built a two-masted boat from the wreckage of the Astrolabe and left in a westward direction a few months later. Their fate remains unknown. During his voyage the captain had sent back letters with accounts of their experiences. He also sent French officer J. Baptiste Barthelemy (Baron de Lesseps) to Europe with journals, charts and documents. In 1791 Louis Antoine Milet-Mureau was commissioned to edit a book from these materials, which was first published in France in 1797. This English translation appeared a year later.
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Category:
Unclassified