Elephant-folio format atlas of 1797= First edition
Four text volumes of 1798 = Second edition
The four volumes dated “L’An VI de la République - 1798” [L’An VI in fact covers 1797/1798]

Description of one of the most famous scientific expeditions ever undertaken in the Pacific (from 1785-1788), a milestone of maritime exploration with the purpose of discovering new parts not previously found by Capt. Cook (f.i. the East coast of Asia and the Japan Sea). The report of Cook’s last and third expedition was not jet known when La Pérouse left Brest.
In 1785, Jean-Francois de Galaup, Comte de la Perouse, began preparations for an extensive sea voyage. His aim was to explore the Pacific regions of North and South America, Asia and Australasia. The sponsor of the expedition was the French king, Louis XVI, who was inspired by Captain James Cook's Pacific voyages. Louis ordered the French expedition to show the world that France could also dominate in ocean exploration. The expedition consisted of two ships - La Boussole and L'Astrolabe. They carried a total of 225 crew, officers and scientists. The ships left France in August 1785 and sailed south around Cape Horn. The voyage was expected to lastfour years. During the voyage, La Perouse sent back regular reports to France. The expedition mapped coastlines and explored uncharted areas of ocean. The expedition's scientists also spent time onshore at various ports, observing the habits and customs of local people and collecting natural history specimens.The expedition's progess until September 1787 was published by the French government as Voyage de La Perouse autour du monde [La Perouse's voyage around the world].
La Pérouse was last seen in 1788 in Botany Bay, Australia and then disappeared. The first rescue attempts were unsuccessful. The ship and its crew were lost for almost four decades. In 1826 the wreckage of the Astrolabe ship was discovered in Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Islands, solving the mystery of La Pérouses disappearance. The text and plates only survived because of the habit of La Pérouse to forward his findings and drawings to Paris each time he set foot in a friendly port en route, f.i. via Macau.

“Atlas du Voyage de La Pérouse”
No place of publication, no editor, no date. Most probably First Edition, 1797
With original, blue-marbled front and rear; spine in patinated, recent vellum; orange-red leather title label with gilt lettering. Complete with 1 beautiful title page with large title engraving showing the route of La Pérouse’s Voyage + 69 plates: