![Zoomable full resolution image available at davidrumsey.com . This image 14352.097 is a part of image group 14352.000 . Outer covers to Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes : Navigation et géographie. Contemporary boards with original pink papered edges and spine, with original paper spine label, which includes abbreviated title. Title translates to: Voyage to the Southern Territories : Navigation. Outer covers protect volume, which is bound in marbled wrappers. Volume, tucked within outer covers, is housed in a contemporary slip cover, with opening decorated in original pink papers. The rare complete official narrative and hydrography of the great French voyage of the Napoleonic period, the Baudin-Freycinet Expedition. The voyage has been characterized as the last great Enlightenment voyage, and was perhaps its purest expression, combining as it did scientific curiosity and research, territorial and geopolitical ambition, and the spirit of inquiry on the widest scale. As the first full atlas of the Australian coastline, its cartographical contribution is of extraordinary value, with a navigational section charting the coast. It is among the finest items of Australiana ever published, recounting an outstanding exploration. The six volumes were published separately over a period of ten years, commencing in 1816. In this complete form, the journals are exceedingly rare. The expedition was ordered by the French government in order to complete the cartographic survey of the Australian coast, covering the area not examined by Cook. Commanded by Nicolas Baudin, the crew was composed of twenty-two scientists, ranging from hydrographers, geographers and astronomers to zoologists, botanists and 'artiste-peintres’. The expedition left France in 1800 and sailed via Mauritius to the Western Australian coast in the region of Cape Leeuwin, arriving in May 1801. Peron sailed as naturalist on the expedition and Freycinet as cartographer. The vessels, Geographe and Naturaliste, sailed north from Cape Leeuwin, charting the mouth of the Swan River, the site of present day Perth. After three months in Timor, the two ships set out for Tasmania, continuing to make surveys and a close study of the indigenous Tasmanian people and their material culture. The expedition continued on to New South Wales, creating a fine panorama of the town of Sydney, as well as views and a town plan. They then undertook a complete survey of the southern coast and an examination of the northern coast before returning to Mauritius where, near the end of 1803, Baudin died. The voyage brought back to France a wealth of geographical information. The cartography of the voyage was of crucial interest. The French exploration coincided with the the English circumnavigation of Mathew Flinders. The two expeditions famously met up at the consequently named Encounter Bay in South Australia. With Flinders' subsequent imprisonment by the French, his captors were first into print with their mapping of Australia, the great Hydrographical Atlas appearing in 1812, two years before the publication of Flinders' narrative and charts, and thus the first full Australian atlas, a remarkable achievement for visitors rather than settlers. (See Flinders atlas in the collection under Pub List No. 10745.000.) The expedition narration was begun by Peron, and completed by Freycinet after Peron's death. A tacit agreement between Peron and Freycinet, both of whom disliked Baudin, kept the commander's name mostly absent from the present official account of the expedition. The narrative includes the first publication of a complete and fully detailed map of the Australian coastline. It is a cartographic milestone, artfully done, exemplifying the French artistry of the time. The southern coast is almost entirely named "Terre Napolean," indicating France's colonial ambitions. Highlights of the numerous plates and maps (many hand-colored) include an engraved portrait of Peron, done within days of his death; coastlines of Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, as well as two folding panoramic views of Sydney and Timor. Also included are nautical charts, coastal profiles, views and plans of Sydney, as well as detailed charts of harbors and islands around Australia, Tasmania and Timor. Complete set comprised of two volumes of historical text, two volumes of plates, including portraits and views, one volume of navigation text describing the voyage, and one atlas (see further details below). Together, the six volumes contain 87 plates, comprised of 61 maps, 39 views, 13 portraits and 13 illustrations. Maps shows cities, routes, ports, topography, vegetation, drainage, coastline, shoals, anchorage and islands. Maps include latitudinal and longitudinal lines, as well as legends, bar scales, compass roses and explanatory notes. Engravings, some hand-colored. In addition to the maps, views offer further detail of specific locations, such as the tombs on Maria Island, in the Tasman Sea. Details include flora and fauna, as well as indigenous people, along with their shelters. Ethnographic portraits beautifully capture indigenous individuals of Tasmanian and New South Wales, replete with their names, dress and ornamentation. Illustrations provide close studies of indigenous accoutrements, including baskets, vases, jewelry, weapons and fishing gear. Additional illustrations show animals of the continent, such as kangaroos, platypus and wombats. Most volumes in the original pink papered boards, with gilded titles, and with some pages still uncut. Collations: Vol 1 of Historique : Paris, de l'Imprimerie Imperiale, 1807. 4to, pp [4], (i)-xv, (blank) (3), 4-496, 2pp errata. -- Vol 2 of Historique : Paris, a l'Imprimerie Royale, 1816. 4to, pp [4], frontispiece portrait, v-xxxi; (blank); (1)-471pp. -- Atlas par Mm. Lesueur et Petit : Paris. Small folio, pp [6] text; original tissue guards; with 40 leaves of plates (2 folding). -- Atlas Deuxième Partie, Rédigée par Mr. L. Freycinet : Paris, 1811. Small folio, pp [6] text; with 14 leaves of plates, (2 folding). -- Navigation et Géographie Rédigée par M. Louis Freycinet : Paris, De l'Imprimerie Royale, 1815. 4to, pp [4]; v-vxi; (1)-576, 2pp errata, the last pages of text unopened, uncut. -- Partie Navigation et Géographie Rédigée par Louis Freycinet : Atlas. Paris, 1812. Imperial folio, pp [4]; with 32 leaves of plates (25 double-page). Original red diced calf, gilt decorated spine, original red papered boards with gilt border decoration. References: Ferguson 449, 563 & 603; Wantrup 78a, 79a , 80a & 81; Hill p. 1329 (Narrative volumes only); Davidson, Book Collector's Notes, pp. 108-110; Sharp, Discovery of Australia, pp.232-39; Dunmore, French Explorers in the Pacific II, pp.9-40; Plomley, The Baudin Expedition and the Tasmanian Aborigines 1802. (Full text images of all pages can be seen at the Biodiversity Heritage Library; link in Pub Reference.) For complete scans of all text pages see https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org References: Ferguson 449, 563 & 603; Wantrup 78a, 79a , 80a & 81; Hill p. 1329 (Narrative volumes only); Davidson, Book Collector's Notes, pp. 108-110; Sharp, Discovery of Australia, pp.232-39; Dunmore, French Explorers in the Pacific II, pp.9-40; Plomley, The Baudin Expedition and the Tasmanian Aborigines 1802. (Full text images of all pages can be seen at the Biodiversity Heritage Library; link in Pub Reference.) Subjects:](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjkwhtxmcyktrxqjgjvgf.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fmedia%2Fnewsroom%2F2026%2F05506c8a-ac04-4c50-8894-d4aa8eea9e5c-platypus-house.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
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Event details verified from the City of Hobart upcoming events calendar.
- Date: 13 November 2026
- Location: St David's Park, Davey Street, Hobart
- Highlights: live music from the rotunda; free Devonshire tea
This listing appears on the City of Hobart upcoming events pages.