Histoire des Navigations aux Terres Australes.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

Paris: Chez Durand 1756. Comprising two small quarto volumes bound in original full calf (hinges strengthened; slightly rubbed). Spines gilt and with raised bands and morocco title-labels. With decorative initials head and tail pieces and 7 engraved folding maps by Sir Robert de Vaugondy including the Strait of Magellan Australia incl. the western coast of New Zealand New Guinea incl. Arnhem Land and Far North Queensland the westernmost part of West Papua Caroline Islands (north of New Guinea) etc. This is an excellent copy despite some discolouration of the text. Complete. The present work by renowned French scholar Charles de Brosses (1709-1777) is a comprehensive collection of early voyages to the South Pacific from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the mid-eighteenth century. It is divided into three parts 'en Magellanie' 'en Australasie' and 'en Polynesie' and includes accounts of the voyages of Magellan Drake and Cavendish le Maire & Schouten Dampier Quiros Pelsart Tasman and Roggeveen among others. Brosses work is recognised as "one of the outstanding works relating to the early history of Australasia" made even more interesting by Brosses' proposal that France should colonise Australia "with her foundlings beggars and criminals" (Hill 2004 190).