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1753 Diderot & Bellin Antique Atlas History of Early Voyages to Australia w/ Map

Cartographer : Denis Diderot

s Diderot & Nicolas BellinTitle : Histoire Generale Des Voyages ou Nouvelle Collection De Toutes Les Relations de Voyages Par Mer et Par Terre, Qui ont ete publiees jusqu a present dans les differentes Langues de toutes les nations connues.....Tome Quarante - Deuxieme A Paris Chez Didot....MDCCLIII
(General History of Travels or New Collection of all Travel reports by Sea and land, which have been published unitl now in the different languages of all known nations....volume 42...Didots...1753)
Ref #: 51002
Size: 12mo (7in x 4in)
Date : 1753
Condition: (A+) Fine Condition

Description:

This original antique atlas of early voyages of discovery to the South Seas and significantly Australia was published by the famous French writer & publisher of the French Enlightenment Denis Diderot in his significant publication Historie Generale Des Voyages in 1753 - dated.
The atlas contains 381 pages, one of the earliest complete copper plate maps of Australia (13in x 10in) by Nicolas Bellin along with 2 copper plate prints of plants by Dampier in the late 17th century. The atlas has original marbled end papers contained within contemporary mottled calf bindings, gilt spines in compartments with morocco labels.
This atlas is in beautiful fine condition, clean crisp paper, fine map and prints contained within a beautiful tight calf bindings and spine.

General Definitions:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color : - white
Age of map color: -
Colors used: -
General color appearance: -
Book size: - 12mo (7in x 4in)

Imperfections:
Margins: - See above
Plate area: - See above
Verso: - See above

Background:
A significant publication which includes accounts of many early voyages to Asia & the southern hemisphere. The voyages include
1. Introduction
2. Francois Plesart 1629 - 1630
3. Abel Tasman 1642 - 1643

4. William Dampier 1699 - 1700

5. Description of Timor Island

6. Deux Vaisseaux Francois - 1738 - 1739

7. Voyages de Gautier Schouten - 1658 - 1665

It includes accounts of all the principal early Australian voyages as well as an account of the discovery of Australia by the Dutch including Roggeveen's voyage to the Terres Australes (this features the great Bellin map with the hypothetical east coast of Australia prior to the surveying of the east coast by Cook in 1770) (Ref: Tooley; M&B)

Diderot, Denis 1713 - 1784

Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (Encyclopedia, or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts) along with Jean le Rond d Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment.

Diderot began his education by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in philosophy at a Jesuit college in 1732. He considered working in the church clergy before briefly studying law. When he decided to become a writer in 1734, his father disowned him for not entering one of the learned professions. He lived a bohemian existence for the next decade. He befriended philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1742.

Though his work was broad as well as rigorous, it did not bring Diderot riches. He secured none of the posts that were occasionally given to needy men of letters; he could not even obtain the bare official recognition of merit that was implied by being chosen a member of the Académie française. He saw no alternative to selling his library to provide a dowry for his daughter. Empress Catherine II of Russia heard of his financial troubles and commissioned an agent in Paris to buy the library. She then requested that the philosopher retain the books in Paris until she required them, and act as her librarian with a yearly salary. Between October 1773 and March 1774, the sick Diderot spent a few months at the empress court in Saint Petersburg.

Diderot died of pulmonary thrombosis in Paris on 31 July 1784, and was buried in the cities Église Saint-Roch. His heirs sent his vast library to Catherine II, who had it deposited at the National Library of Russia. He has several times been denied burial in the Panthéon with other French notables. The French government considered memorializing him in this fashion on the 300th anniversary of his birth, but this did not come to pass.

Diderots literary reputation during his lifetime rested primarily on his plays and his contributions to the Encyclopédie; many of his most important works, including Jacques the Fatalist, Rameaus Nephew, Paradox of the Actor, and D Alemberts Dream, were published only after his death.

Please note all items auctioned are genuine, we do not sell reproductions. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) can be issued on request.

$1,650.00