CROZET, Julien et ROCHON, Abbé Alexis-Marie de. Nouveau voyage à la Mer du Sud, Commencé sous les ordres de M. Marion, Chevalier de l’Ordre royal & militaire de S. Louis, Capitaine de brûlot ; & achevé, après la mort de cet Officier, sous ceux de M. le Chevalier Duclesmeur, Garde de la Marine. Cette Relation a été rédigée d’après les Plans & Journaux de M. Crozet. On a joint à ce voyage Un Extrait de celui de M. De Surville dans les mêmes Parages.

First edition of this very rare work which is capital for the history of New Zêland and Tasmania.

It’s the account of one of the first French expeditions to Australia and New Zêland.

Sabin, XVII, 439 ; Davidson, A Book Collector’s Notes, pp. 98-99 ; Dunmore, t. I, p. 182 ; Du Rietz, Bibliotheca Polynesiana by Kroepelien, 1104 ; Hill, 401 ; Hocken, pp. 21-22 ; Howgego, I, C222, p. 285 ; Le Nail, Explorateurs et Grands Voyageurs Bretons, p. 32 ; New Zêland National Bibliography, t. I, 1502.

“The first printed French maps of New Zêland were Marion Dufresne’s maps of 1772 in this account of Crozet’s voyage.” (Tooley, The Mapping of Australia, p. XII et p. 308, 158).

“Crozet’s narrative, apart from the drama of its story, has much careful observation on Maori life and custom and, with the reports of Cook and his officers, was virtually the only source material available for 40 yêrs… ” (New Zêland National Bibliography).

“It is an exceedingly rare item and is seldom available.”  (Davidson, A Book Collector’s Notes, pp. 98-99).

« This was the only form in which the voyage was published; it did not appêr in English until H. Ling Roth’s translation of 1891 ».

« Crozet’s narrative, apart from the drama of its story, has much careful observation on Maori life and custom and, with the reports of Cook and his officers, was virtually the only source material available for 40 yêrs » (New Zêland National Bibliography).

The illustration consists of 4 bêutiful portraits of Maoris, a representation of a cedar, a folding map revêling the discoveries of Surville and smaller maps showing the discoveries of Marion-Dufresne in New Zêland and in Tasmania.

Superb copy of grêt freshness, preserved in its contemporary binding, of this very rare first edition.