VERDUN DE LA CRENNE - BORDA - PINGRÉ - Voyage fait par Ordre - Lot 139

VERDUN DE LA CRENNE - BORDA - PINGRÉ - Voyage fait par Ordre du Roi en 1771 et 1772, en diverses Parties de l'Europe, de l'Afrique et de l'Amérique Pour vérifier l'Utilité de plusieurs Méthodes & Instruments, servant à déterminer la Latitude & la Longitude, tant du Vaisseau que des Côtes, isles & écueils que l'reconnoit; suivi de recherches pour rectifier les cartes hydrographiques. Paris, De l'Imprimerie Royale, 1778; in-4, table + 389 + XXI + 500 pp, bound in contemporary full marbled calf, 5-rib spines, red morocco title-pieces, edges painted red. The 2 volumes. 26 plates, numerous tables in the text and 3 large folding maps, 2 for the Atlantic and one for the West Indies. In 1771-1772, the French government sent a scientific expedition led by Verdun de la Crenne to the North Atlantic. Their mission was to explore the ocean, coasts and islands, correct errors on existing maps and test various methods of measuring latitude and longitude. One of the most important corrections they made was the location of Iceland. Based on their measurements, they moved the country three and a half degrees to the east. It includes the large North Atlantic chart (58 x 88 cm), which is roughly centered on Iceland. It extends from Labrador, Newfoundland and Baffin Island (James Island) to Norway, and includes Greenland, Great Britain, Denmark and part of the French coast, inland to Paris. Expert: Mr. Philippe HENRY