Beschreibung:

LABILLARDIÈRE, JACQUES-JULIEN HOUTON DE Relation du voyage à la recherche de La Pérouse, fait par ordre de l'Assemblée constituante pendant les années 1791, 1792 et pendant la 1ere et la 2de année de la République françoise. Paris: chez H.J. Jansen [F. Schoell], An viii i.e. [1800]-1811. First edition, the quarto issue. Text: Two volumes, later wrappers on uncut sheets in modern slipcase and chemise. Plates: publisher's blue paste paper over boards, retaining portions of the spine label, housed in a matching slipcase and chemise. Text: 11 3/4 x 9 1/8 inches (30 x 23 cm); xvi, 442, [2] pp.; 332, 113, [1] pp. Atlas: 19 1/2 x 13 inches (50 x 43 cm); engraved title, double-page map of the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean (by Barbie du Bocage) and 43 plates engraved by Copia after drawings by the expedition artist, Piron, and Redouté, for the botanical plates. The wrappers of the text replaced, but an uncut copy, with some occasional mild spotting. The upper cover of the atlas has separated, and the boards are rubbed and corners worn. There is a small loss to the lower blank corner of the title, and scattered foxing throughout, less after plate VII. The preferred larger issue of the first published account of the voyage in quest of La Perouse, written by the expedition's naturalist, Labillardière. The expedition, led by Rear Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, saw smoke signals from Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands, but was unable to land because of surrounding reefs. He died two months thereafter. A second voyage to the region in 1826 established that La Pérouse's ships had likely foundered on the reefs. However, the rescue expedition itself, which was additionally tasked with scientific and commercial inquiries, was successful. Ferguson Australia 307, 682; Hill II 964 etc. C Property of a Gentleman