LECONTE, François

Picturesque memoirs of a naval officer. Brest, Le Pontois jeune, 1851. 2 volumes in-8 (215 x 137 mm) of 2 ff.n.ch., 600 pp. for volume I ; 2 ff.n.ch., 625 pp. for volume II. Brown half-chagrin, spine ribbed, original printed yellow cover (with spine) preserved (later binding). O'Reilly, 1097. First edition. "Commander Leconte (1791-1872) was given command of the corvette La Seine in 1845 for a campaign of scientific survey and exploration in Oceania. [He] was to lead 200 troops to Tahiti [and] spent in mid-February 1846 48 hours in Taiohae (Nuku-Hiva)... In July the Seine was wrecked on the coast of New Caledonia" (O'Reilly). Rare work, "after the liquidation of the bookstore Le Pontois the remaining stock of the work was burned" (O'Reilly). Ex-dono from Leconte's granddaughter to father O'Reilly. Last leaf of vol I awkwardly repaired in margins.