The Journal of Post Captain Nicolas Baudin, Commander-in-Chief of the corvettes Géographe and Naturaliste, assigned by order of the Government to a voyage of discovery

The Journal of Post Captain Nicolas Baudin, Commander-in-Chief of the corvettes Géographe and Naturaliste, assigned by order of the Government to a voyage of discovery.
The Baudin expedition to Australia between 1800 and 1803 aimed to explore the uncharted coasts of New Holland and was the greatest scientific maritime venture of its day.

Having spent three months charting and sounding waters on the eastern coast of Van Diemen’s Land and studying the flora, fauna and native population, the French reached the mainland in late March 1802. When they met Matthew Flinders at Encounter Bay on 8 April they were surprised and dismayed to find that he had already explored most of the southern coast.

The French however named part of the coast already charted by Flinders Terre Napoléon and also gave French names, some still in use today, to many geographical features.
Nicolas Baudin failed to complete the voyage, succumbing to tuberculosis at Mauritius on the way home. His journal remained in French archives until translated by Christine Cornell and published in 1974 by the Libraries Board of South Australia.

Essentially a facsimile of the 1974 translation, this new publication will incorporate copies of original charts of the South Australian gulfs and the entire continent by Louis de Freycinet, not previously included in the facsimile.

A limited edition of 300 copies blind stamped with the image of Baudin’s ship, Le Géographe (the first 99 numbered, hand-bound in quarter leather), this publication will be of a more manageable size than the original and will complement Volume 2 of Péron’s Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Lands issued in 2003.

A must for collectors seeking to build a unique set of volumes encompassing this remarkable French contribution to the exploration of Australia.

The Journal of Post Captain Nicolas Baudin includes new material, a chart of the gulfs of SA and a folding map of New Holland.

The edition is limited to 300, with 99 individually numbered and hand bound in quarter leather and 201 standard in decorated cloth boards.

RRP Deluxe (sold out) Standard (Sold out)