The Voyage of La Perouse Round the World, in the Years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788. With Nautical Tables. To Which is Prefixed, Narrative of an Interesting Voyage from Manilla to St. Blaise. And Annexed, Travels over the Continent, With the Dispatches of La Perouse in 1787 and 1788.
London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1798. First Edition. 2 volume set. 290, 442+64+119pp. Octavos [22 cm] Full tree calf bindings with gilt stamped black leather labels and decorative gilt stamping to the backstrips. Tastefully rebacked with the original backstrips laid down. Bookplates on the front pastedowns. New endsheets and pastedowns. 50 of 51 plates, lacks the map 'Chart of the World.' A handful of small ink library stamps. Item #8049
The first foreign visitor to arrive in California, after its founding in 1769, was the French explorer, La Perouse. Landing at Monterey, he remained ten days, in the month of September 1780. Considering the length of his stay, he left the best account of the natural resources of the country until Frenchman, Duhaut-Cilly, arrived in 1827. In comparing the Indians and their treatment by the missionaries to the slave system in the West Indies, he stirred up a debate that lasted until long after the American occupation. Zamorano 80: 49. Sabin 38964. Howes L93.
Price: $875.00