Beschreibung:

* ENTRECASTEAUX, Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni d' (1737-1793). Voyage de D'entrecasteaux, Envoyé a la Recherche de la Pérouse... Rédigé par M. de Rossel. Paris: de l'Imprimerie Impériale, and Dépot Générale des Cartes et Plans de la Marine et des Colonies, 1808, 1807. 2 volumes, comprising: text, 4to (310 x 232 mm); atlas, folio (545 x 400 mm). Text: 32 engraved folding charts (minor marginal browning and spotting to plates). Atlas: engraved title-page, engraved contents leaf, 39 engraved maps and charts (29 double-page) on thick paper. Text: modern quarter calf uncut. Atlas: Modern half calf (rebacked preserving original backstrip). FIRST EDITION OF THIS VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF A VOYAGE WITH TREMENDOUS IMPORTANCE TO THE EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC. D'Entrecasteaux joined the French navy in 1754 and fought in 1756 at Minorca. He assumed command of the French fleet of the East Indies, and in 1787 was appointed governor of Mauritius and the Isle of Bourbon. While in command in search for La Perouse in 1791-92, he determined the position of Amsterdam Island, explored the coastlines of New Caledonia, Tasmania, and New Holland, and located several groups of islands. Many of the charts made by the expedition were of unusually high standards (particularly those of South Australia produced by Beautemp Beaupre), and the 12 magnificent maps of Western Australia and Tasmania recorded the coast accurately for the first time. They are regarded the most significant ever made. Ferguson 461 (text) and 443 (atlas); Hill 467; Sabin 22671; Wantrup 64a-b. Estimate $6,000-8,000