LA POIX FRÉMINVILLE Christophe Paulin Nouvelle relation du voyage à la recherche de La Pérouse. Exécuté par ordre du roi, pendant les années 1791, 1792, 1793, et 1794, par M. D’Entrecasteaux. Rédigée d’après les journaux particuliers de plusieurs personnes de l’expédition.

Sabin, 39007; Ferguson, 2491.

First edition, very rare.

La Poix Fréminville (1787-1848), a sailor, naturalist and archaeologist, entered the navy in 1801 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1811. After his retirement in 1831, he devoted himself exclusively to natural history and archaeology and published numerous notes and memoirs. His Nouvelle relation du voyage a la recherche de Lapérouse meticulously reproduces “the diaries of several members of the expedition”. It is “augmented by an account of the circumstances that led to the discovery of the site of the shipwreck of M. de La Pérouse’s frigates”. One of the most remarkable details is the complete list of the crews of the two ships, L’Esperance and La Recherche.

Small waterstain at head of the last two quires.

Of this rare edition we have been able to trace one single copy offered at auction over the past 100 years.