Catalog Archive
Auction 135, Lot 648

"Plan de la Parte des Iles ou Archipel de Coree, vue au Mois de Mai 1787 par les Fregates Francaises la Boussole et Astrolabe", La Perouse, Comte Jean F. Galoup, de

Subject: Korea

Period: 1797 (published)

Publication: Atlas du Voyage de la Perouse

Color: Black & White

Size:
27 x 19.5 inches
68.6 x 49.5 cm
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Jean-Francois de Galoup, Comte de La Perouse commanded a French scientific expedition to the Pacific in 1785-88. Recognized as one the foremost naval commanders and navigators in France, he was selected by King Louis XVI to complete Captain James Cook's exploration of the western Pacific. The British Admiralty provided scientific equipment to measure variations in magnetic compass readings and with the latest instruments for determining longitude. La Perouse explored the coasts of the Gulf of Alaska and northwestern North America in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. After leaving America his expedition continued on to Asia where he explored from Macao to Kamchatka and the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. La Perouse was meticulous in sending copies of his extensive logs, maps and surveying information via other ships as well as overland. La Perouse's last contact was in the spring of 1788 with a British ship in Botany Bay, Australia. The expedition was never heard from again. Considered one of the greatest French voyages, the French Government decided to publish the story of the expedition when it became clear they had been lost. An English edition was published in London.

This chart describes a small and detailed portion of the larger voyage described in the Carte Generale des Decouvertes faites en 1787 dans les Mers de Chine et de Tartarie…. Here the course of the Frigates Boussole and Astrolabe are delineated in the Korea Strait, from Jeju (Quelpaert) Island to the southern tip of Korea. The larger exploration sailed from Manila Bay to Taiwan (Formosa), past Korea and through the Sea of Japan along the coast of China, past Hokkaido and the Kuril islands to Kamchatka.

References:

Condition: A

A very fine example on thick hand laid paper with wide margins and good impression. A few small areas of soiling in blank areas of map image, otherwise fine.

Estimate: $200 - $250

Unsold

Closed on 2/16/2011

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