Jean-Francois de Galoup, Comte de La Perouse commanded a French scientific expedition to the Pacific in 1785-88. Recognized as one the foremost naval commanders and navigators in France, he was selected by King Louis XVI to complete Captain James Cook's exploration of the western Pacific. The British Admiralty provided scientific equipment to measure variations in magnetic compass readings and with the latest instruments for determining longitude. La Perouse explored the coasts of the Gulf of Alaska and northwestern North America in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. After leaving America his expedition continued on to Asia where he explored from Macao to Kamchatka and the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. La Perouse was meticulous in sending copies of his extensive logs, maps and surveying information via other ships as well as overland. La Perouse's last contact was in the spring of 1788 with a British ship in Botany Bay, Australia. The expedition was never heard from again. Considered one of the greatest French voyages, the French Government decided to publish the story of the expedition when it became clear they had been lost. An English edition was published in London.

This large-scale map of British Columbia and the southeast coast of Alaska depicts the route of La Perouse's voyage with only those parts actually surveyed from Bay de Clonard (Graham Island) to Mt. St. Elias. Drawn by Herault and engraved by Bouclet.

References: Wagner #844; Falk #1797-9.

Condition: A

Issued folding on watermarked paper with minor soiling, a small worm hole that has been infilled with archival materials in an unengraved area at right, a few tiny holes that are only visible when held up to light, and light creasing at far right.