La Pérouse, Voyage, 1798; Relation de la voyage a la recherche de La Perouse, an VIII; 7 volumes

Jean François Galaup de La Pérouse

A set of works about his fateful voyage around the world, comprising:

Voyage de la Pérouse autour du monde, publié... et rédigé par M.L.A. Milet-Mureau. Tome premier (-quatrieme). Paris: Plassan, 1798, 4 volumes, 8vo, half-titles, contemporary tree calf, gilt border, flat spines gilt in compartments with red and black morocco lettering-pieces, red edges, some wormholes at end of vol.2 affecting text, bindings rubbed and chipped

Atlas du voyage de La Pérouse. [Paris: Plassan, 1798], folio, engraved frontispiece portrait, engraved title-page after Moreau le jeune, 69 engraved plates comprising single views and folding maps, contemporary calf-backed green paper boards, some plates creased, occasional light foxing, binding slightly worn, foot of spine defective

Labillardiere. Relation du voyage a la recherche de la Pérouse, fait par order de l'Assemblée constitutante... Tome premier (-second). Paris: H.J. Jansen, an VIII [1800], 2 volumes, 8vo, half-titles, contemporary tree calf gilt, flat spines gilt with red morocco lettering-pieces, red edges, occasional light browning, bindings rubbed

together 7 volumes

This expedition followed the disappointment of Kergeulen's failure to find the Terra Australis and was, in effect, the French answer to the voyages of Cook. La Pérouse explored the North Pacific and the American North-West with the frigates Astrolabe and Boussole. His instructions were to explore those regions not covered by Captain Cook, to seek out an inter-oceanic passage, make scientific observations and obtain reliable information on the fur trade and the extent of 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 the latter, was never heard from again. Thirty-nine years later, in 1825, the wrecks of the two frigates were found by Peter Dillon at Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz Group.

Labillardiere’s Relation du voyage chronicles the expedition whose object was to find the missing La Pérouse. "Although unsuccessful in the search, the voyage was of considerable importance due to the scientific observations made and also for surveys of the coast of Tasmania, New Caledonia, the north coast of New Guinea, and the southwest coast of Australia. Labillardiere's account of the Tongans is among the best contributions to the ethnology of that people" (Hill, p. 168). The plates depict natives and their activities and tools, flora, and fauna.

PROVENANCE:

Pietro Borla, Biella, stamp on title-pages