Beschreibung:

DES BARRES, Joseph Frederick Wallet (1721-1824). The Sea Coast of Nova Scotia... surveyed by Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres Esq . [London: The Admiralty] maps dated 1775-77. Large 2° (730 x 540mm). Engraved general title letterpress contents leaf, engraved table of 'references' showing various hydrographic symbols, and scales, three letterpress leaves of sailing directions, two coastal profiles and 31 engraved charts (of 33), several on many sheets, folding, many with inset views. (Occasional light spotting, few maps shaved at margins, a few small tears.) Original brown wrappers, torn. An interesting early series of the Nova Scotia section of Des Barres's Atlantic Neptune . In this copy the existence of the original wrappers, the detailed contents list, the 'references', and the ink-stamped numbering of the sheets, suggests that it was probably released in 1778 to satisfy demand, before the work was finalised in 1784. Both Phillips 1198 and National Maritime Museum Catalogue 3, 320, give collations for complete sets of the Atlantic Neptune which mix up the Nova Scotia charts with various views and profiles. In this example the story of this most impressive survey of the North American eastern seaboard is involved. Des Barres, a Swiss, came to England to study as a military engineer and, after completing his course at Woolwich, was soon posted to Quebec working with Wolfe during the Quebec campaign, as well as assisting James Cook on his large scale chart of the St. Lawrence. From 1763-73, under Admiralty instructions, he set about his major survey of Nova Scotia, returning to England in 1774. The publication was completed in 1784. Des Barres returned to Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island as Governor and died in 1824 at the age of 103. Included with the lot are 11 other later coastal profiles and harbour views from the Atlantic Neptune .