5 volumes. [2], viii, 341; [4], 384; [4], 381; [4], 368; [4], 435, [3] pp. With 17 engraved plates of views; 9 engraved maps and charts, 8 of them folding. All engraved by Tardieu on fine, thick paper. (8vo) 19.5x11.5 cm (7¾x4½"), period quarter calf & speckled boards, spines ruled in gilt, morocco lettering pieces. First French Octavo Edition.
French octavo edition of the account of George Vancouver's voyage to the Pacific Ocean and the northwest coast of North America, rivaling in importance those of Cook and La Perouse. The maps and plates for this edition were usually issued in a separate atlas, but in the present copy they are usefully bound in to the text volumes. Hill proclaims that "This voyage became one of the most important ever made in the interests of geographical knowledge," and Lada-Mocarski states emphatically that "this is one of the most important voyages for the history and the cartography of the northwest coast in general and of Alaska in particular." The engraved views were drawn by William Alexander from sketches made on the spot by expedition members. The views of Mission of San Carlos and the Presidio of Monterey, when issued in the 1798 first edition, were probably the first published views of California.
Provenance: Geneve, 3/80
References: Howes V-23. Forbes, Hawaii, no. 343.
Condition:
Some scuffing to spines and corners, insect damage to Vol. II spine; a few small brown spots to the text, a couple of signatuares in Vol. I browned a bit, very good or better, the maps and plates in fine condition.