VINCENDON-DUMOULIN, Clément-Adrien - Lot 162

VINCENDON-DUMOULIN, Clément-Adrien Marquesas Islands or Nouka-Hiva. History, geography, customs and general considerations. According to the relations of the navigations and the documents collected on the places. Paris, Arthus Bertrand, 1843. In-8 (213 x 138 mm) of VII, 362 pp. 1 f.n.ch. of table, 4 lithographed maps (2 of them folding). Half tan basane, smooth spine decorated, cover without spine preserved (modern binding). O'Reilly, 4243 & 6269. A rare and important work on the Marquesas by Vincendon-Dumoulin (1811-1858), the eminent French scientist who traveled as a hydrographer on Dumont d'Urville's second expedition to the Pacific and who was responsible for much of the published account of the expedition after d'Urville's untimely death. Vincendon-Dumoulin's book is generally cited as one of the primary sources for our post-discovery history of the Marquesas, all the more valuable because it is at least partially based on direct personal observation. Dumont d'Urville's secretary, César Desgraz (1816-1865), helped him compile it and is credited as co-author on the title page. Additional information, including ethnological updates, is included in the subchapter entitled "Notice phrenologique et ethnologique sur les naturels de l'archipel Nouka-Hiva" (p. 292 ff.) by Pierre Marie Dumoutier, a phrenologist on board Dumont d'Urville's second expedition. In addition, this book publishes Du Petit-Thouars' report on the Marquesas Islands. "Good compilation of the documents collected by the first navigators on the Marquesas Islands, to which is incorporated information provided by the missionaries Stewart, Lesson, Jacquinot, Hombron, etc." (O'Reilly). [Bound at the end: ] - GAIMARD, Paul. [Prospectus for] Voyages de la Commission scientifique du Nord. 38pp. Trace of wetness at the head. [Followed by: ] - RADIGUET, Maximilien René. [Pre-original of] La Reine Blanche aux îles Marquises. Paris, La Revue des deux Mondes, 1859. pp. 430-479 - O'Reilly, 1048. Radiguet was for four years secretary to Admiral Dupetit Thouars aboard the Reine-Blanche, "he thus participated in the French occupation of the Marquesas Islands where he arrived in April 1842... This is one of the best books of this time on the Marquesas" (O'Reilly). Good copy, complete with its 4 maps.