CHABERT (Joseph Bernard, marquis de).

CHABERT (Joseph Bernard, Marquis de). Voyage fait par ordre du Roi en 1750 et 1751, dans l'Amérique septentrionale, pour rectifier les cartes des côtes de l'Acadie, de l'Isle Royale & de l'Isle de Terre-Neuve. Paris, Imprimerie impériale, 1753. In-4, (1) f., viii pp., 288 pp, 6 folding maps, 1 folding table and plate, (5) ff. of table, red morocco, triple gilt fillet in frame, alternating coat of arms at the corners (More's head and stones), large coat of arms in the center of the boards, gilt (for Peirenc de Moras : stones) and painted on a white calf piece (for Moreau de Séchelles : More's head), spine decorated with the same coat of arms alternating between the nerves, brown title-piece, interior roulette, gilt edges (contemporary binding). First edition of this important travel report on the coasts of North America; Chabert was to carry out a precise survey of the coasts of Acadia. It is illustrated with 6 maps, a table on the calculation of the places of the moon and the sun and a fold-out plate. The first part describes the voyage from Brest to Louisbourg (Cape Breton), and to the islands of Newfoundland and surroundings. The second part contains remarkable astronomical observations of latitude and longitude, the merit of which prompted the Academy of Sciences to recommend the work to sailors, and Chabert was made a knight of the Order of St. Louis. Interesting provenance for this very nice copy; it bears the arms of François-Marie Peirenc de Moras and Marie-Jeanne-Catherine Moreau de Séchelles (whom he had married in 1739). This work by Chabert, Enseigne des vaisseaux du Roi, and Member of the Académie de Marine, had a special place in the library of Peirenc de Moras, who was himself Controller General of Finances and Secretary of State for the Navy. OHR, 278 (Moreau de Séchelles) and 2206 (Peirenc de Moras), reports only their separate arms and makes no mention of joined arms. A few small freckles. Tiny tear on the second plate, small stains without gravity. Unidentified armorial bookplate (ship). Exceptional copy in contemporary morocco, with the arms.