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 in green cloth with leather label and gilt titles on spine. The two volumes are housed in a modern, green cloth slipcase.

References:

Condition: B+

Maps, plates, and text have light scattered foxing throughout with moderate foxing to the map of the world and Pacific Ocean which are at the end of each volume (B). A page of text was mistakenly inserted between the left and right sides of the Hawaii map. Average wear to extremities with bumped edges and light soiling.