A rare complete set of the official account of Freycinet's voyage of scientific exploration.

During the nineteenth century, a large part of ornithological interest was taken by the description and discovery of new species. A number of large works were produced in France as a result of scientific expeditions sent out to gather materials to be brought home and described. These works were profusely illustrated with colour plates by the finest artists. One of the most important of these is the present work. The zoological section was written by Quoy and Gaimard. It contains a good deal of ornithological material including 27 fine plates: 'it included, probably 8–10 new species of Australian birds' - Andrew Black et al, British Ornithologists' Club, 2013.

'The Uranie, with a crew of 1123 men, entered the Pacific from the West to make scientific observations on geography, magnetism, and meteorology... the expedition... visited most notably Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, Tonga, and Tierra del Fuego. The original ship wrecked off the Falkland Islands, was replaced by the Physicienne which visited Rio de Janeiro. Captain... Freycinet's wife, Rose, was smuggled on board at the advent of the voyage and made the complete journey, causing a great deal of discord among the crew. Freycinet named an island he discovered after her - Rose Island among the Samoa Island' (Hill).

First edition. 12 vols comprising: 8 vols 4to text, plus 4 large folio volumes (1 atlas, 3 of plates), three engraved titles, 354 engraved plates and maps, contemporary green morocco-backed boards, atlas in original blue-green marbled boards, modern morocco-backed fold-over box. A fine fresh set, minor defects noted below.

The set comprises:

FREYCINET, L.-C. de S. de. Historique, 1825-37. 3 vols: 2 vols 4to text, large folio (49 x 33 cm) plate volume. Atlas: engraved title with integral vignette, 11 pages of letterpress text at back, Table explicative, 12 engraved maps or plans (2 double page) and 100 views, and portraits(41 hand-coloured). Occasional light spotting.

QUOY, Jean R.C.; GAIMARD, Joseph P. Zoologie, 1824. 2 vols: 1 vol. 4to text, large folio plate volume. Atlas: engraved title on india paper mounted, 13 pages of letterpress text at back, Table Explicative, 96 engraved plates (77 hand-coloured or printed in colour and finished by hand) after Chazal, A. Prevost. Huet, Taunay, P. Oudart and others, by Coutant and others. The subjects include 27 birds, all coloured, 23 fish, most coloured, crustaceans, mammals, insects and others. Occasional light spotting, corners bumped.

GAUDICHAUD, Charles. Botanique, 1826. 2 vols: Text, 1 vol. 4to, plate volume large folio. Plate volume: engraved title 22 pages of letterpress text at back, Table explicative, 120 engraved plates, unsigned but by A. Ploiret fils. The plates include 32 Hawaiian plants and 20 plates of newly described plants from New Holland.

FREYCINET, L.-C. de S. de. Navigation et Hydrographie, 1826. 3 vols: Text: 1 vol. bound in 2, 4to; Atlas, large folio (59.5 x 40 cm). Text: 3 engraved plates. Atlas: letterpress title and 1p. Table des cartes et plans, 22 engraved maps and charts, after Duperrey, Labiche and Berard. Original tissue guards.

FREYCINET. L.-C. de S. de. Observations du Pendule, 1826. 1 vol. 4to. Half-title, title with wood-engraved vignette.

FREYCINET, L.-C. de S. de. Magnetisme terrestre, 1842. 1 vol. 4to. Half-title, one folding engraved map.

FREYCINET. L.-C. de S. de. Meteorologie, 1844. 1 vol. 4to. Half-title.

Anker p 44; Hill 425; Ferguson 941; Fine Bird Books p75; Nissen (ZBI), 1425; Sabin 25916; Whittell p260; Wood 349.