VANCOUVER, George (1757-1798). Voyage de découvertes, à l'océan Pacifique du Nord, et autour du monde. Translated by J.N. Demeunier and C. Morellet. Paris: l'Imprimerie de la République, an VIII [1800].

VANCOUVER, George (1757-1798). Voyage de découvertes, à l'océan Pacifique du Nord, et autour du monde. Translated by J.N. Demeunier and C. Morellet. Paris: l'Imprimerie de la République, an VIII [1800].

First French edition of Vancouver’s voyage, ‘printed in both a more attractive manner and on better paper than the English edition’ (Forbes). Vancouver served on Captain Cook's second and third voyages, and was stationed in the West Indies for some years before being asked to undertake a hydrographic survey of the northwest coast of America. This followed the signing of the Nootka Sound Convention in 1790 which confirmed the rights of Britain in the region. Between leaving Falmouth in 1791 and returning home in 1795, Vancouver’s two ships sailed about 55,000 miles. ‘This voyage became one of the most important ever made in the interests of geographical knowledge’ (Hill). Over three summer surveying seasons, Vancouver circumnavigated the island subsequently named after him, and disproved the existence of a passage between the Pacific and Hudson's Bay. His men covered more than 10,000 miles in small boats, and delineated more than 1700 miles of coastline with unerring accuracy. He died before his journal could be published. Forbes 324; Howes V-23; Howgego V13; Sabin 98441; Tourville 4640.

3 volumes of text, quarto (293 x 210mm) and one atlas volume, folio (660 x 479mm). Text: 18 engraved plates (light spotting to plates, also occasionally to text, more particularly to title, preliminaries and end leaves of vol. II, a few quires in vol. I browned, final leaf of vol. I stained and repaired). Atlas: 16 engraved plates, comprising 10 double-page charts and 6 plates of coastal profiles. Text vols in contemporary uniform tree calf with gilt chain roll border, spines gilt with red and green morocco labels and repeated anchor motif (covers lightly rubbed and scuffed, slight chipping and bruising to spines, some restoration). Atlas in non-uniform contemporary tree calf with floral gilt border, spine gilt with black morocco labels and repeated quatrefoil tool, marbled edges (spine chipped and neatly restored).

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