Jules DUMONT D'URVILLE

First edition, never translated into english, and first issue of the fine steel engravings by Sainson.

The illustrations are distributed as follows:

• for the first volume: 141 plates hors-texte including a frontispiece, and 3 folding maps (Hawaii, Tahiti, and a general map of the voyages).
• for the second volume: 136 plates hors-texte, including a frontispiece, and 4 folding maps (Tonga Islands, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean, general map).
• Bindings in emerald green half polished sheep. Spines with four raised bands, decorated with rocaille tools. Red morocco title labels. Spines uniformly lightened. Minor rubbing.
• The steel-engraved plates, after...

First edition (Pritzel, 2480.)

Our copy is issued in the original wrappers, preserved in a temporary mustard-coloured paper cover; the spine rubbed with losses to the mustard paper, and a library shelf label pasted to the verso of the upper cover.

A very rare botanical monograph written by the great navigator following the scientific expedition sent to the Black Sea and the Greek islands (aboard the vessel La Chevrette), during which he was responsible for observations in natural history and archaeology (it was in the course of this mission that the Venus de Milo was unearthed).

First edition, and first issue of the fine steel engravings by Sainson.

The illustrations are distributed as follows:

• in the first volume: 145 plates outside the text, including a frontispiece and four maps, two of which are folding; the map of the Hawaiian Islands curiously appears twice: once as a folding map, once across two separate plates;
• in the second volume: 140 plates outside the text, including a frontispiece and three folding maps.
• Contemporary bindings in cherry red half shagreen, spines with four raised bands decorated with gilt garlands and double gilt fillets and floral tools, red cloth-covered boards, marbled endpapers and...