Barkus Farm Antiques and Fine Art

Very Rare - Jean Francois de Galaup La Perouse's Charts and Plates - Plan of Port des Francais (Port of France) on the North West Coast of America - Fine Engraving Published 1798/1799.

$600

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This fine very rare engraving is from Jean Francois de Galaup La Perouse's Charts and Plates to La Pérouse's Voyage. It was printed in London by G.G. & J. Robinson between 1798 and 1799.

A fine copy of this engraving from Robinson's edition is "usually considered to be the best one in English ... [and is] extremely rare" (Hill), picturing and charting La Perouse's ill-fated voyage round the world.

"La Pérouse's expedition was one of the most important scientific explorations ever undertaken to the Pacific and the west coast of North America ... The charge to the expedition [which took place between 1785 and 1788] was to examine parts of the region that had not been explored by Captain Cook; to seek an interoceanic passage; to make scientific observations on the various countries, peoples, and products; to obtain reliable information about the fur trade and the extent of Spanish settlements in California; and to promote the inducements for French enterprise in that quarter ... La Pérouse and his men did important geographical research ... The voyage also included the first foreign scientific group ever to visit Alta California [two of the plates depict a bee eater and a male and female partridge of California. There are also maps and plans of San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego] ... La Pérouse sent dispatches back to France from Kamchatka and Botany Bay. The two ships then set sail from Botany Bay, in 1788, and were never heard from again." (Hill)

When it became clear that something had happened to the expedition, a decision was made to publish the journals he had transmitted home. It was not until the 1820s that the wrecks of his ships were discovered on a reef in the Santa Cruz group. La Perouse's voyage is notable for its superb mapping of the Alaskan and California coasts, including maps of San Diego, Monterey, and the whole Northwest Coast. The atlas also contained numerous interesting views on the coast, and in California and the Pacific, as well as botanical and natural history plates.

Country of Origin: England.

Artist/Maker: Jean Francois de Galaup La Perouse

Medium: Engraving.

Size: Each page 17 1/2 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Total 17 1/2 by 22 inches.

Date Printed: 1798 - 1799.

Condition: Good to Very Good Antique Condition overall. Some scattered light foxing. A few minor imperfections to be expected with age.

Literature: Charts and Plates to La Pérouse's Voyage.

***Please note that the physical colors of this item may vary from the pictures in the listing, given the quality of the camera, the lighting and the background used.

When buying more than one item, we combine shipping. We also try to further discount orders for multiple items.
Item id: Jean Francois de Galaup La Perouse's Charts and Plates - Plan of Port des Francais on the North West Coast of America.
Color: Black, White
Media: Engraving
Theme: Coastal, Historical
Width: 17" (43 cm)
Height: 11" (28 cm)
Origin: England • English
Age: 18th Century
Item type: Antique