Sign In

Password

- Or use -

Forgot Password Create Account

Checkout

This item has been sold, but you can enter your email address to be notified if another example becomes available.

Stock# 12054

Download Small Image

Map Maker

Louis Choris

Title

Habitants Des Iles Sandwich

Publication Place / Date

Paris / 1820

Image Dimensions

8.5 x 5 inches

Color

Hand Colored

Condition

Stock# 12054

SOLD

Request Info

Sell Us a Map

Add to Wishlist

Email a Friend

Map Maker

Authenticity Guarantee

Map Maker

Fast, Global Shipping

Description

Scarce hand colored copper plate engraving of two native Hawaiians, from Choris' Voyage pittoresque autour du monde, avec des portraits de sauvages d'Amerique, d'Asia, d'Afrique et des iles du Grand Ocean; des paysages, des vues maritimes, et plusieurs objets d'histoire naturelle, one of 25 hand colored plates in this monumental work. .

Choris' Voyage pittoresque autour du monde is one of the most beautiful of all Pacific voyage plate books, and one of the rarest. Choris, a Russian of German descent was only 20 when he was appointed as draughtsman on the Kotzebue expedition of 1815-1818. This, his great work, was first issued in 22 parts between 1820 and 1822. Most of the views do not appear in the later official accounts of the expedition published in Germany and Russia.

The many beautiful plates include views and scenes of native life, artefacts, plats, shells and animals. They cover California (several San Francisco), Hawaii (the first view of Honolulu), Alsaka and various parts of Micronesia.

The list of subscribers acounts for only 188 copies, including the Emperor of Russia, and King of France. 57 copies were subscribed in Russia, including 10 for the Emperor and 20 for Prince Galitzin, one of his ministers. The most beautiful book on the north Pacific, with more early views of Hawaii, Alaska and California than any other. It is 'one of the valuable and fundamental works on Alaska, California and the Hawaiian Islands'(Lada-Mocarski) and 'one of the most beautiful books of travel in existance' (Hill).

Reference

Cowan, I, 47; Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 541; Forbes, Treasures, 29; Hawaii One Hundred, 27; Hill 290; Lada-Mocarski 84; Nissen, ZBI, 881; Sabin 12884; Soliday I, 592a (extremely rare); Streeter 2461; Wickersham 6676.