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De Courtanvaux, M. le Marquis [Le Tellier de Cortanvaux, Francois-Cesar].
Journal du Voyage de M. le Marquis de Courtanvaux.
Publisher: L’Imprimerie Royale, Paris;
Date of Publication: 1768
Stock Code: 8228
FIRST EDITION. Quarto, pp. viii, 316, [4] errata. Engraved frontispiece and 5 engraved gatefold plates, including map of the Normandy-Holland coast. Contemporary full mottled calf with 5 raised bands, maroon label with gilt titles to spine and gilt decoration to compartments; double gilt ruled border to boards. Marbled endpapers. Upper joint cracked but holding firmly; edges rubbed with slight wear to corners. From the library of Francisco Condeminas, noted Spanish maritime historian; with his appropriately cartographical bookplate to front paste-down. Small repair to edge of frontispiece; chip to title-page upper corner; loss to lower half of final printed leaf (with no loss of text). Scattered light foxing, A Very Good copy. Courtanvaux’s report on his voyage testing several chronometers to precisely determine longitude for the first time; the Academy of Sciences awarded their prize to one of the chronometers built by watchmaker Le Roy, which was tested on Courtanvaux’s voyage in 1767. A very attractive copy in a contemporary binding. £1800.00