The Voyage of La Perouse Round the World in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, with the Nautical Tables. To which is Prefixed, Narrative of an Interesting Voyage from Manilla to St. Blaise. And annexed Travels Over the Continent, with the Dispatches of La Perouse in 1787 and 1788 by M. de Lesseps
London: John Stockdale, 1798.
Hardcover. Near fine. Two volumes, 8vo. Vol I: pp cxc, 290, with 21 plates and 5 maps (3 folding); Vol. II: pp vii, 442 + 3-64 (Tables Shewing the Course of La Boussole), [1]-119 (DeLessups' Substance of the Travels Over the Continent, with the Dispatches of La Perouse) + [1] ad, with 23 plates, a plan, and two maps. Later three-quarter leather, marbled boards. Bookplate of Stuart W. Jackson on the front pastedown of Vol. I. A near fine set, with some plates trimmed a bit close at the fore edge, but no significant compromise to images. Some offsetting from plates to facing pages. One of two English editions/translations of La Perouse published in 1798--this one probably slightly later, but with 51 original plates and maps (in contrast to 42 in the J. Johnson edition) and "considered to be the best one in English" (Holliday, 637). Plates show geographical features and landscape, native peoples and customs, boats, birds, and other natural history. Account of "one of the most important scientific explorations ever undertaken to the Pacific and the west coast of North America" (Hill). La Perouse and his men obtained much important geographic data, as well as valuable information about the fur trade and the extent of Spanish settlements in California. They were the first foreign scientific expedition to visit Alta California. The narrative also gives accounts of Easter Island, Hawaii, Macao, Formosa, the Aleutian Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Australia. La Perouse sent his reports back from Botany Bay and then set sail in 1788, never to be heard from again. Sabin 38964; Howes L-93, Hill 974.
Item #13969
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