Beschreibung:

Voyage Autour Du Monde, fait dans les anne'es MDCCCXL,I,II,III,IV. Par George Anson, Presentement Lord Anson, Commandant en Chef d'une Excadre Envoye'e par sa Majeste Britanique dans la Mer du Sud. Tiré des Journaux & autres Papiers de ce Seigneur, & publié par Richard Walter... Author: Anson, George Place Amsterdam & Leipzig Publisher: Chez Arkste'e & Merkus Date: 1749 Description: [8], xiv, 333, [1] pp. Title page printed in red & black, with large engraved vignette. With 34 folding copper-engraved plates, maps & charts, most folding. (4to) 25x18.8 cm (9¾x7½"), period full mottled calf, spine tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering piece, marbled endpapers. French-language edition of this important narrative, famous for the many engraved charts and views, but also noteworthy for the text chronicling adventure and discovery as Anson roamed the Pacific in pursuit of Spanish treasure, at which he was very successful, capturing in 1743 the Manila galleon with a treasure of 400,000 sterling, returning to England a rich and famous man. Hill comments that "This compilation has long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel. Anson's voyage appears to have been the most popular book of maritime adventure of the eighteenth century." This edition was issued with eight fewer plates and charts than the 1748 English-language first edition, but those it contains are finely engraved, superior to those in the English edition, and printed on fine paper. Among the significant charts are the southern tip of South America with Straight of Magellan; the Philippines; and the chart of the Pacific with the coast of California (this with a few crease tears but no loss). There is only light offset from the text to some of the plates, less than in most copies of the book, for which this is a common feature in early editions regardless of language or place of printing. Lot Amendments Condition: A little rubbing to covers, scuff and scorch mark to lower edge or rear cover; lower corner of pp. 125-6 clipped off not affecting text; internally fine or nearly so, clean and crisp, a superior copy. Item number: 324277