Beschreibung:

CROZET, Julien Marie (1728-1780). Nouveau Voyage a la Mer du Sud, Commencé sous les orders de M. Marion. On a Joint a ce Voyage Un Extrait de celui de M. de Surville dans les mêmes Parages . Paris: Barrois l'aîné, 1783.
CROZET, Julien Marie (1728-1780). Nouveau Voyage a la Mer du Sud, Commencé sous les orders de M. Marion. On a Joint a ce Voyage Un Extrait de celui de M. de Surville dans les mêmes Parages . Paris: Barrois l'aîné, 1783. 8 o (193 x 120 mm). 6 engraved plates, one folding map. Contemporary French sheep, smooth spine gilt-ruled, red morocco lettering piece (some light rubbing). RARE FIRST EDITION of de Fresne's voyage and death, from notes by his second-in-command, Crozet. This was the first French visit to New Zealand and the second French visit to Australia, preceded only by Allouarn's brief stop in the West. Marion du Fresne's 1771-1772 expedition sailed in search of Terra Australis which he envisioned as a French stronghold on the route to India and from which to repel British shipping. It was also partly funded by its commander to return the Tahitian Mayoa to his home, but who unfortunately died en route. The expedition ended quickly and tragically in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand where Marion du Fresne and twenty-one of his men were killed by the Maoris. Crozet's account was compiled by Abbé Alexis Marie Rochon who originally had intended joining the expedition and retained a great interest in it. He included a long extract from J.F.M. de Surville's voyage to New Zealand as the attack on de Fresne may have been in retaliation for the kidnapping of a Maori chief by Surville in 1769, just north of the Bay of Islands. Crozet's observations on Maori life, along with the reports of Cook and his officers, were the only available source material on New Zealand for the next forty years. On the outward voyage a small but significant discovery was made -- the Crozet Islands, midway between the Cape of Good Hope and the Kerguelens. Hill 401; Hocken 21-22; Kroepelien 1104; Sabin 72371.