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 is the atlas volume to one of the greatest French voyages, published by order of the French Government. Jean-Francois de Galaup, 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. The French Government decided to publish the story of the expedition when it became clear they had been lost.

Some of the more interesting charts included are those of the Hawaiian islands and some of the earliest obtainable printed maps of San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay and San Diego. The allegorical title page centers on a map of the world that shows the route of the expedition with classical muses, an angel, putti and Native Americans gathered around the map. Drawn by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune and engraved by Ph. Triere. Also included is a portrait of La Perouse engraved by Alexander Tardieu. Atlas with title page, portrait, 31 maps, and 38 plates, most of which include a tissue guard. Hardbound in quarter tan leather over marbled paper-covered boards, with gilt tooling and black leather title label on spine.

References: Phillips (Atlases) #688; Sabin #38960; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.LPR-1a.

Condition: B+

The majority of the maps are in very good condition (B+), with light offsetting, occasional short tears or separations at fold intersections that have been repaired with old paper on verso, occasional small dampstains, some extraneous creases due to miss-folding of the large charts, and occasional marginal defects. A handful of the maps are in excellent (A) condition, including the charts of San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. The plates are generally in excellent (A) condition, including the title page. The portrait and front free-endpaper are detached. The front and back hinges are nearly perished. The covers are scuffed with bumped and slightly bowed corners. The spine is well worn and there is a chip in the title label.