Item #3712660 Relation abrégée du Voyage de La Pérouse, pendant les années 1785, 1786, 1787 et 1788…. LA PEROUSE, Charles de VILLERS.
Relation abrégée du Voyage de La Pérouse, pendant les années 1785, 1786, 1787 et 1788…

Relation abrégée du Voyage de La Pérouse…
Relation abrégée du Voyage de La Pérouse, pendant les années 1785, 1786, 1787 et 1788…

Leipzig: 1799.

Octavo, frontispiece, five plates, and a large folding map; contemporary quarter calf, bookplate.

Rare abridgment

Abridged account of the La Pérouse voyage, published two years after the official edition. Although printed in a smaller format than the lavish (and handsomely priced) official edition, this book was aimed at voyage enthusiasts, advertising itself on the title-page as a supplement to La Harpe's series of voyage accounts. Although the title page attributes the abridgement to Jean-Francois de La Harpe, McLaren states it is actually the work of Charles Françoise de Villers. Rolf du Rietz confidently speculates 'the Leipzig imprint is probably fictitious.'

Abridged account of the La Pérouse voyage, published two years after the official edition. Although printed in a smaller format than the lavish (and handsomely priced) official edition, this book was aimed at voyage enthusiasts, advertising itself on the title-page as a supplement to La Harpe's series of voyage accounts. Although the title page attributes the abridgement to Jean-Francois de La Harpe, McLaren states it is actually the work of Charles Françoise de Villers. Rolf du Rietz confidently speculates 'the Leipzig imprint is probably fictitious.'

The preface records all previous Pacific voyagers of any note, and includes a full list of persons who embarked with La Pérouse including officers, scientists, artists, sailors, engineers, artillerymen, carpenters, domestic servants and supercargo (dated July 1785).

Only the National Library copy is recorded by Ferguson, while McLaren notes another at the State Library of Victoria.

Ferguson, 291; Kroepelien, 851; McLaren, 525 ('Laharpe'); not in the Hill catalogue.

Condition Report: Some wear to binding, front joint wearing and with small split; otherwise a very good copy

Price (AUD): $2,800.00

US$1,839.53   Other currencies

Ref: #3712660

Condition Report