Beschreibung:

JACQUES ETIENNE VICTOR ARAGO (1790-1855) Narrative of a Voyage Round The World in the Uranie and Physicienne Corvettes commanded by Captain Freycinet, during the years 1817,1818, 1819, and 1820; on a scientific expedition undertaken by order of the French Government. London: Treuttel and Wurtz, Jun. and Richter, 1823. 4° (268 x 212mm). With half-title. Folding engraved map and 24 engraved plates, engraved illustration printed in red. (Spotting to some plates, a very few plate captions and one plate shaved). 19th-century calf, sides blind-ruled, spine gilt-ruled with gilt-lettered label (lightly rubbed). FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH of Arago's popular epistolary account of his voyage of circumnavigation with Captain Freycinet, written in 'a very witty and amusing style' (Borba de Moraes) possibly to his brother, the astronomer François Dominique Arago (Forbes). Freycinet found him bold and intelligent, particularly in dangerous situations, such as when the Uranie ran aground in the Falkland Islands. The report on the voyage commissioned by the French Academy of Sciences describes Arago's original collection of drawings as 'one of the most remarkable that has been seen, both for the number and variety of the subjects. It affords the strongest proof of the unwearied zeal and remarkable intelligence of M. Arago' (p. xxvi). Borba de Moraes I, p.44; Brunet I, 372; Ferguson 885; Forbes I, 562; Sabin 1865.