LA PEROUSE, Jean Francois de Galaup, comte de (1741–c. 1790...

Atlas volume only, folio (on regular paper and trimmed, 445 x 298 mm). Engraved pictorial title–page depicting figures viewing a map of the Hawaiian Islands by Ph. Friere after J.M. Moreau le Jeune, engraved portrait of La Pérouse (counted as the 70th plate and is frequently bound as a frontispiece to Volume I but is sometimes found bound in the atlas), 69 engraved maps, plans and plates (small marginal repair to portrait frontispiece, some offsetting from frontispiece to title–page, tiny uniform chip at outer margin at text block to few plates, some occasional browning at margins, some spotting to a few maps). Modern dark brown calf. Provenance: Friedrich Wilhelm University (institutional stamp on title–page verso).

FIRST EDITION, published with the 4–volume Voyage de La Perouse autour de monde... and is considered “ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATIONS EVER UNDERTAKEN TO THE PACIFIC AND THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA” (Hill). In 1785, an expedition set out in two ships, one captained by La Perouse and the other by Paul–Antoine Langle. Their instructions were to explore those regions not covered by Captain Cook, to see out an interoceanic passage, make scientific observations, and obtain reliable information on the fur trade and the extent of the Spanish settlements in California. The expedition visited Easter Island, Hawaii, Macao, Formosa, the Aleutian Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Australia. After departing from Botany Bay in 1788, the expedition was never heard from again and although a search party was sent captained by d’Entrecasteaux, it was not until 39 years later that the wrecks were found on the reef of Vanikoro, one of the Santa Cruz islands, by Peter Dillon. “The folio atlas contains magnificent maps of Russian Asia, Japan, the Pacific Northwest Coast, Hawaii, San Francisco, and Monterey, and the views include a fine series of canoes and botanical and ornithological plates, including the California quail. Of particular interest to Hawaii is the plate that depicts the French ships off Makena, Maui. It is the first fully developed view of that island” (Forbes). Borba de Moraes, p. 449; Ferguson 251; Forbes 272; Hill 972; Howes L–93; Sabin 38960.