BUACHE Jean-Nicolas Analyse de la carte générale de l’océan atlantique ou Occidental, dressée au Dépôt des Cartes, Plans & Journaux de la Marine, et publiée par ordre du Roi, pour le service des Vaisseaux de Sa Majesté, sous le Ministère de M. le Maréchal de Castries, Ministre & Secrétaire d’État ayant le département de la Marine & des Colonies, en 1786.

Sabin, 1360; Polak, 9649; Olivier, 2496, n°7.

First edition.

This explanatory text is to accompany the map of the North Atlantic published by Buache de la Neuville (1745-1825), first geographer to the King and one of the organisers of the expedition undertaken by La Pérouse. The map contains information gathered during the explorations led by Claret de Fleurieu (1773), Verdun de la Crenne, Borda and Pingré (1778) and Chastenet de Puységur – the latter had returned to France in 1785. Additional sources include the travel accounts by Chabert, Cassini, Cook, etc. The coastlines of Europe, Africa, various islands (Açores, Canaries, Cape Vert), New Foundland, Saint-Lawrence stream, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, etc.

Fine copy from the “Conseil de la Marine”. King Louis XVI, who had a soft-spot for travel and exploration had just sent off La Pérouse in order to complete the scientific data collected by Captain Cook in the Pacific. During the absence of the explorer the Kind and his minister, the Marquis de Castries, had given order to edit this new edition of the descriptions of the coastal map of Atlantic Ocean. The French Revolution and the death of La Pérouse halted this ambitious undertaking.

Binding expertly restored. Book plate of F. Pigeot.