Beschreibung:

RENÉ PRIMEVÈRE LESSON (1794-1849)
RENÉ PRIMEVÈRE LESSON (1794-1849) Voyage autour du Monde sur la corvette La Coquille. Paris: P. Pourrat frères, 1838-1839. Two vols, 8° (217 x 139mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece to vol. I, 19 hand-coloured engraved plates, including ten ornithological plates, and 23 uncoloured engraved plates, two of these folding, with engraved vignettes to title-pages, half titles and two-page errata slip to rear of vol. II. (Margin of first plate in vol. I with abrasions to margin, occasional very light dust soiling.) Later early-nineteenth-century-style half calf by Troobants, spines gilt, with morocco labels, these lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. PARTICULARLY FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION of the only full narrative of Duperrey's voyage of discovery by a member of the expedition. Since the official narrative of the expedition was never published, Lesson's account remains the only full printed account of Duperrey's expedition, alongside Dumont d'Urville's Observations personelles . 'The expedition achieved notable scientific results and corrections to maps, accumulated much meteorological data, and brought back many rock samples and botanical specimens. Lesson was the naturalist of this expedition' (Hill). His account includes nineteen fine hand-coloured plates of natural history subjects, including nine superb ornithological plates. Hill 1012; Ferguson 2787; Borba de Moraes I, p.475; Sabin 40214; cf. Howgego II, D37. (2)