A voyage to the South-sea, and along the coasts of Chili and Peru in the years 1712, 1713, and 1714

: particularly describing the genius and constitution of the inhabitants, as well Indians as Spaniards … / by Monsieur Frezier … Illustrated with 37 copper-cutts … Printed from the author’s original plates inserted in the Paris edition. With a postscript by Dr. Edmund Halley … And an account of the settlement, commerce, and riches of the Jesuites in Paraguay.

London Printed for J. Bowyer, 1717. Quarto, contemporary full blind panelled calf, corners restored, expertly rebacked with new spine in period style, spine with raised bands and red morocco title label lettered in gilt, armorial bookplates to front pastedown, title page printed in red and black, pp. [14], 335, [9] pp, 37 leaves of plates including maps and plans (18 folding), complete with list of directions to binders; a fine copy.

First English edition of Relation du voyage de la mer du Sud aux cotes du Chili, du Perou, et du Bresil, fait pendant les annees 1712, 1713 &​ 1714 (1716).

‘Frézier, a French royal military engineer, was under contract to sail to the Spanish possessions in South America to construct forts for defence against English and Dutch attacks. The French government also ordered him to chart the western coast of South America in order that they would have some knowledge of that area for possible military operations. The first part of the book gives an interesting account of the voyage from France around Cape Horn and was used by contemporary and even by later navigators. The second part relates to the voyage along the coasts of Chile and Peru, describing the chief towns and cities. Frézier, a man of observation, brought back information of considerable geographical and scientific value. Much data is included about the native inhabitants… The first English translation contains the same engravings as the original, but is preferred to the latter because it contains a postscript by Edmund Halley … which corrects certain geographical errors….’ (Hill)

Sabin, 25926; Hill, 654.