Voyages et Decouvertes Faites par le Russes le Long des cotes de la Mer Glaciale & sur l'Ocean Oriental, tant vers le Japon que vers l'Amerique. On Y a joint l'Histoire du Fleuve Amur (two volumes bound in one) by Muller, G.P. [F.] - 1766

Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1766. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good +. First French edition, sixteenmo size, 636 pp. This volume is the first French edition of this work originally published in German in 1758, which is the "most important contemporary account of Bering's discoveries, by [Gerhard Friedrich Muller (1705-1783), historian and scientist, who was] attached to [Bering's] second expedition" (quote from Wright-Howes). The original map is bound in at the rear.

___DESCRIPTION: Two volumes bound as one, each with its own title page, in quarter tan leather with contemporary patterned paper boards with gilt decorative rules, gold spine label with gilt lettering, all edges speckled red, Table of Contents ("Table des Matieres") bound in at the back, followed by a publisher's catalogue (not called for in the bibliographies), followed by the folding map showing the lands touching the Arctic Circle, including a large portion of Russia and parts of America, even showing a portion of California; sixteenmo size (approximately 6.5" tall), pagination: Volume I, (i)-xii, (1)-388; Volume II, (i)-iv, (1)-207, (1-22) being the Table of Contents, (1-3) being the publisher's ads, folding map.

___CONDITION: Volume is very good plus to near fine; a professional restorer performed some archival restoration to mend the joints, corners and edges. Externally, the binding is now strong with no wear, although there is some insect damage on the spine label. Internally, there is evidence of an old label (some type of official stamp?) on the front paste-down endpaper, the top corner of the front free endpaper was filled in, and the first page of text is missing the top corner (not affecting any text) as well as having evidence of an old (library?) stamp which is placed over the chapter heading (lightly - text is easily read). Throughout the text there is overall light toning. There may be a page missing from the publisher's catalogue at the rear, as the entries end with items beginning with the letter "R". The folding map is near fine, with overall toning but no tears. There are some old wormholes on the rear paste-down endpaper, but none going into the folding map.

___CITATION: Sabin 51286, Wright-Howes M-884.

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