1 / 3

Description

[TAITBOUT]. Essai sur l'isle d'Otahiti, située dans la mer du sud; et sur l'esprit et les mœurs de ses habitans. Avignon, Paris: Froullé, 1779. - In-8, 194 x 121: frontispiece, xxiv, 125 pp. Half marbled calf, ornate smooth spine, red speckled edges (period binding). O'Reilly, Reitman, 9291. - R. du Rietz. Biblioth. Polynesia, 1271. Rare first edition attributed to Taitbout. Véronique Dorbe-Larcade, in her book Ahutoru ou l'envers du voyage de Bougainville à Tahiti, states that this is the jurist and polygrapher Jean-Baptiste Taitbout, while others (sudoc) refer to Julien Taitbout, clerk of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. "As a fervent disciple of Montesquieu, the author seizes on the observations reported by the discoverers of Tahiti, Cook and Bougainville, observations which he summarizes in an impersonal manner, to study the true nature of man and investigate what lessons can be drawn from them to "bring about the general and much-desired revolution". The life of the natives reflects the conditions of their environment. Their regime cannot survive, and the arrival of Europeans will be fatal to them". (O'Reilly, Bibliographie de Tahiti et de la Polynésie française, 9291). The edition is illustrated with a fine frontispiece depicting a view of the island, engraved by Jean-Jacques Avril (1744-1831). Copy in contemporary binding, from the library of Charles-Pierre Claret de Fleurieu (1738-1810), naval officer, nautical theorist, member of the Institut and the Bureau des Longitudes. Originally called Eveux de Fleurieu, he took the name Claret de Fleurieu on his father's death. A naval guard in Toulon in 1755, he took part in the Seven Years' War, then received leave to pursue scientific studies. He took lessons from the watchmaker Berthoud, whose clocks he experimented with at sea in 1768-1769 on the frigate Isis. The report of this voyage, written by Fleurieu and Pingré, was published in 1773. In 1776, he became second inspector of the Navy's map and plan repository, and deputy inspector of the Académie de Marine. The following year, he was appointed director of ports and arsenals. He prepared campaign plans for the American War for the Minister of the Navy, took part in the creation of the port of Cherbourg and drafted instructions for La Pérouse's voyage. He became Minister of the Navy in 1790. To support himself, he sold his library and map collection, and directed the execution of the Neptune Americo-septentrional published by Bonne. Until his death, he worked on the Neptune des mers du Nord. Member of the Bureau des Longitudes. Appointed State Councillor in 1799, he became Senator in 1805, then Administrator of the Tuileries Palace. [Sources: Data BNF]. Binding skilfully restored. A few traces of light dampening. Provenance: Charles-Pierre Claret de Fleurieu, with bookplate (1810, no. 1296)

Automatically translated by DeepL. The original version is the only legally valid version.
To see the original version, click here.

29 
Go to lot
<
>

[TAITBOUT]. Essai sur l'isle d'Otahiti, située dans la mer du sud; et sur l'esprit et les mœurs de ses habitans. Avignon, Paris: Froullé, 1779. - In-8, 194 x 121: frontispiece, xxiv, 125 pp. Half marbled calf, ornate smooth spine, red speckled edges (period binding). O'Reilly, Reitman, 9291. - R. du Rietz. Biblioth. Polynesia, 1271. Rare first edition attributed to Taitbout. Véronique Dorbe-Larcade, in her book Ahutoru ou l'envers du voyage de Bougainville à Tahiti, states that this is the jurist and polygrapher Jean-Baptiste Taitbout, while others (sudoc) refer to Julien Taitbout, clerk of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. "As a fervent disciple of Montesquieu, the author seizes on the observations reported by the discoverers of Tahiti, Cook and Bougainville, observations which he summarizes in an impersonal manner, to study the true nature of man and investigate what lessons can be drawn from them to "bring about the general and much-desired revolution". The life of the natives reflects the conditions of their environment. Their regime cannot survive, and the arrival of Europeans will be fatal to them". (O'Reilly, Bibliographie de Tahiti et de la Polynésie française, 9291). The edition is illustrated with a fine frontispiece depicting a view of the island, engraved by Jean-Jacques Avril (1744-1831). Copy in contemporary binding, from the library of Charles-Pierre Claret de Fleurieu (1738-1810), naval officer, nautical theorist, member of the Institut and the Bureau des Longitudes. Originally called Eveux de Fleurieu, he took the name Claret de Fleurieu on his father's death. A naval guard in Toulon in 1755, he took part in the Seven Years' War, then received leave to pursue scientific studies. He took lessons from the watchmaker Berthoud, whose clocks he experimented with at sea in 1768-1769 on the frigate Isis. The report of this voyage, written by Fleurieu and Pingré, was published in 1773. In 1776, he became second inspector of the Navy's map and plan repository, and deputy inspector of the Académie de Marine. The following year, he was appointed director of ports and arsenals. He prepared campaign plans for the American War for the Minister of the Navy, took part in the creation of the port of Cherbourg and drafted instructions for La Pérouse's voyage. He became Minister of the Navy in 1790. To support himself, he sold his library and map collection, and directed the execution of the Neptune Americo-septentrional published by Bonne. Until his death, he worked on the Neptune des mers du Nord. Member of the Bureau des Longitudes. Appointed State Councillor in 1799, he became Senator in 1805, then Administrator of the Tuileries Palace. [Sources: Data BNF]. Binding skilfully restored. A few traces of light dampening. Provenance: Charles-Pierre Claret de Fleurieu, with bookplate (1810, no. 1296)

Estimate 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
Please read the conditions of sale for more information.

Sale fees: 26.4 %
Leave bid
Register

For sale on Friday 28 Jun : 14:00 (CEST)
paris, France
Ader
+33153407710

Exhibition of lots
jeudi 27 juin - 10:00/18:00, Ader
vendredi 28 juin - 10:00/12:00, Ader
Browse the catalogue Sales terms Sale info

Delivery to
Change delivery address
Delivery is not mandatory.
You may use the carrier of your choice.
The indicated price does not include the price of the lot or the auction house's fees.