Jules Sebastien Cesar Dumont d'Urville (1790-1842) was a French explorer who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. He made three important Pacific explorations; 1822-25 aboard the Coquille commanded by Duperrey, 1826-29 commanding the Astrolabe, and again commanding the Astrolabe and the Zelee in 1837-40 that included exploration of Antarctica. This apparently complete 2-volume set is based upon his second exploration in the Pacific, which included significant Pacific discoveries. His records were so detailed that for the first time the scattered islands of the South Pacific could be divided into three major groups: Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. The two volumes include over 260 engravings, mostly two per page, and six folding maps including a world map, map of the Pacific Ocean, Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand and Hawaii.

Consists of two volumes in French (576 and 584 pages). Quarto, hardbound, quarter calf with tips over marbled boards with gilt title and raised bands on spine and marbled endpapers.

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Condition: B+

Contents are mostly clean and bright, with the maps having occasional faint scattered foxing and offsetting. The world map is loose and has a 1" binding tear and a short fold separation at bottom, while the map of the Pacific Ocean has a 1.5" fold separation at top. There is average wear to the extremities, and the back cover of volume two is starting.