LA PÉROUSE, Jean-François-de Galaup (1741-1788?). Voyage de la Pérouse autour du monde . Edited by M.L.A. Milet-Mureau. Paris: l'Imprimerie de la République, 1797. The superb Bédoyère copy of ‘one of the finest narratives of maritime exploration ever written’ (Howell). Printed on large paper, and with an additional portrait, this copy is one of 12 examples with plates before letters, and one of 3 examples with plates in two states, engraved and etched (as stated in the 1837 sale catalogue entry). La Pérouse, a veteran of the American Revolution and the Seven Years’ War, commanded the Astrolabe and the Boussole on a voyage of scientific discovery that took him and his men over many parts of the Pacific in the years 1786-88. The voyage is especially celebrated for its accurate mapping of the Alaskan and Californian coasts. When in Kamchatka (September 1887) La Pérouse despatched a messenger, De Lesseps, to travel overland across Russia with his journal to date. Thus, though he and his crew disappeared completely from view after sailing north from Botany Bay on 10 March 1788, the revolutionary government in France was able to publish the greater part of his records, ‘mines of cartographic and scientific information about the Pacific’ (Australian Dictionary of Biography). The comte de la Bédoyère, early owner of this copy, was a colonel of cavalry, chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, and from 16 March 1829 a member of the Société des Bibliophiles français. His first library was sold in 1837; he formed a second library of equal renown, sold in 1862 following his death. His younger brother, Charles Angélique François Huchet, comte de l’Empire (1786-1815), was a French general under Napoleon, executed after Waterloo. Brunet III, 828; Forbes 272; Hill 972; Howes L-93; Howgego L20; Sabin 38960. 4 volumes of text, quarto (308 x 217mm) and atlas, folio (578 x 423mm). Text on large paper. Engraved portrait of La Pérouse and an additional portrait of Milet-Mureau in vol. I; plate vol. with printed title on tissue paper, engraved frontispiece and 69 numbered plates comprising a folding engraved world map, 20 double-page charts, 14 coastal profiles and 35 other plates; with the frontispiece and 35 plates of views, costumes, customs and natural history subjects all in two states, engraved and etched, and before letters with some plate captions printed on tissue guards, many etchings signed by L.J. Masquelier, one ascribed to Dennel in ink (vols. III-IV of text lack final leaf with imprint, some short tears to plate margins). Early 19th-century straight-grained red half morocco and marbled boards by Purgold, spines elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, uncut. Provenance : Henri Noël François Huchet, comte de la Bédoyère (1782-1861; armorial label in morocco; his sale, Paris: Silvestre, 4 April 1837, lot 1263).
LA PÉROUSE, Jean-François-de Galaup (1741-1788?). Voyage de la Pérouse autour du monde . Edited by M.L.A. Milet-Mureau. Paris: l'Imprimerie de la République, 1797. The superb Bédoyère copy of ‘one of the finest narratives of maritime exploration ever written’ (Howell). Printed on large paper, and with an additional portrait, this copy is one of 12 examples with plates before letters, and one of 3 examples with plates in two states, engraved and etched (as stated in the 1837 sale catalogue entry). La Pérouse, a veteran of the American Revolution and the Seven Years’ War, commanded the Astrolabe and the Boussole on a voyage of scientific discovery that took him and his men over many parts of the Pacific in the years 1786-88. The voyage is especially celebrated for its accurate mapping of the Alaskan and Californian coasts. When in Kamchatka (September 1887) La Pérouse despatched a messenger, De Lesseps, to travel overland across Russia with his journal to date. Thus, though he and his crew disappeared completely from view after sailing north from Botany Bay on 10 March 1788, the revolutionary government in France was able to publish the greater part of his records, ‘mines of cartographic and scientific information about the Pacific’ (Australian Dictionary of Biography). The comte de la Bédoyère, early owner of this copy, was a colonel of cavalry, chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, and from 16 March 1829 a member of the Société des Bibliophiles français. His first library was sold in 1837; he formed a second library of equal renown, sold in 1862 following his death. His younger brother, Charles Angélique François Huchet, comte de l’Empire (1786-1815), was a French general under Napoleon, executed after Waterloo. Brunet III, 828; Forbes 272; Hill 972; Howes L-93; Howgego L20; Sabin 38960. 4 volumes of text, quarto (308 x 217mm) and atlas, folio (578 x 423mm). Text on large paper. Engraved portrait of La Pérouse and an additional portrait of Milet-Mureau in vol. I; plate vol. with printed title on tissue paper, engraved frontispiece and 69 numbered plates comprising a folding engraved world map, 20 double-page charts, 14 coastal profiles and 35 other plates; with the frontispiece and 35 plates of views, costumes, customs and natural history subjects all in two states, engraved and etched, and before letters with some plate captions printed on tissue guards, many etchings signed by L.J. Masquelier, one ascribed to Dennel in ink (vols. III-IV of text lack final leaf with imprint, some short tears to plate margins). Early 19th-century straight-grained red half morocco and marbled boards by Purgold, spines elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, uncut. Provenance : Henri Noël François Huchet, comte de la Bédoyère (1782-1861; armorial label in morocco; his sale, Paris: Silvestre, 4 April 1837, lot 1263).
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