APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE, Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Denis d' (1707-1780). Le Neptune Oriental. Paris: Demonville and Brest: Malassis, 1775.

APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE, Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Denis d' (1707-1780). Le Neptune Oriental. Paris: Demonville and Brest: Malassis, 1775.

One of the major French sea atlases of the 18th century, this copy captured by the British from the French in the East Indies in 1783. The French corvette Naiade, commanded by Captain (later Rear Admiral) Louis-Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (1747-1812), was part of the French fleet in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Suffren, who was then engaged in naval operations against the British in India. The ship was obviously equipped with the latest navigational aids, including the present atlas, which contains over 20 charts relating to the Indian Ocean. On the night of 11 April 1783, off Trincomalee, Naiade was captured by HMS Sceptre, a 64-gun third-rate, under the command of Captain Samuel Graves (1741-1802). Graves removed this atlas from the French vessel, and presented it to his younger brother, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Graves KB (c.1747–1814).

This is the second edition, adding 41 new charts to the 22 of the first edition of 1745. The ‘Instructions sur la navigation de la France aux Indes’, placed at the head of the atlas, form an important text. ‘The author gives directions for navigating to Brazil, and the position of Rio. It [the atlas] also contains a plan of Rio (plate 7) made by the author in 1751’ (Borba de Moraes I, 43). In navigation to the east, careful consideration is given to China routes (see pp.146-179, 191-192); plate 52 is a chart of the China Sea. Cordier I, 134 calls the atlas ‘ce superbe ouvrage’ and for Lust 162 it is ‘a vast, superb volume’. 4 of the charts are by Alexander Dalrymple, a personal friend of the author’s. There are variations in the make-up of the atlas, and no two copies seem to be exactly alike. The present lot contains 9 charts with updated coastlines which have been re-engraved and pasted onto the maps, including the addition of the island of Socotra on charts 24 and 25 and a large inset chart on 28; numbers 42, 49 and 50 have their numbers pasted on, while the former two also have revised portions of coastline. NMM calls for 63 charts as present here; there is no chart 10 in the current lot. Howgego A107; NMM III(1), 204; Phillips, Atlases 3166; Shirley BL II, M.Apr-1c.

Large folio (550 x 410mm). Engraved frontispiece by J.B. Tilliard after F. Boucher, dedication to Louis XIV with engraved headpiece and opening initial, 63 engraved charts by Guillaume de la Haye as called for by NMM, of which 29 double-page, chart 5 'Carte de la Cote D'Afrique' with 'Avertissement' label pasted over engraved scales, charts 4, 11, 24, 25, 28, 41, 42, 48 and 49 with re-engraved sections of significantly altered coastline printed on paper labels and applied over the original engraved surface (frontispiece with some staining and soiling mainly confined to margins, tiny marginal paper flaw to title, very small marginal rust spot on dedication affecting adjacent leaves, chart 30 with some light spotting, browning and soiling, the others with occasional faint marginal soiling but the majority in fine, bright, crisp condition). Contemporary French calf, covers with gilt Royal arms, the upper cover lettered in gilt 'Marine Service des Vaisseaux du Roy No XL' (rebacked preserving original red morocco gilt spine label, extremities rubbed). Provenance: inscribed on title: 'The gift of Captain Sam. Graves of H.M. Ship Sceptre. To his brother Rear Admiral Sir Thos. Graves KB. Taken in the Naiad French frigate in the East Indies 1782 [sic] commanded by Monsieur Villaret-Joyeuse who afterwards commanded the French fleet against Lord Howe the 1st June 1794.'

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