Lot 233: DUFLOT DE MOFRAS, EUGENE. 1810-1884. Exploration du territoire de L'Orégon, des Californies et de la Mer Vermeille exécutée pendant les années 1840, 1841 et 1842. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, 1844.

Exploration du territoire de L'Orégon, des Californies et de la Mer Vermeille exécutée pendant les années 1840, 1841 et 1842. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, 1844.
2 text volumes plus atlas volume. Text: xii, [4], 524; [4], 514 pp. Half-titles, 8 engraved plates including frontispieces. 8vo (228 x 139 mm). Scattered few mild spots. Atlas: [3] ll. Large folding map hand-colored in outline: Carte de la Cote de l'Amerique sur l'Ocean Pacificque Septentrional. 25 engravings on 17 sheets. Broadside folio (540 x 350 mm). Slight offset from browned guards, boards unevenly sunned, short taped stub tear to large map. 3 volumes in near uniform period red morocco (atlas in morocco-backed boards), crowned cypher gilt, all edges gilt on text. Light scuffing to extremities.

FIRST EDITION OF THIS MOST MAGNIFICENT BOOK ON THE NORTHWEST COAST. "A very rare work" (Hill). The author, who was the French ambassador to Mexico, was investigating the region in order to advise his government on whether or not to become involved in the conflict over Oregon between the United States and Great Britain.
It covers the entire Northwestern coast including Alaska and also Hawaii, but the superlative plates are first and foremost of California interest. Included are images of Monterey, California missionary Father Duran, Californian throwing the lasso, detailed plans of San Francisco, Fort Ross and Bodega Bay, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and the splendid, large "Vue de la Mission de Saint Louis Roi de France dans la Nouvelle Californie" (near the present town of Oceanside, California). The large map is one of great, rare western maps, present here in beautiful condition. It extends along along the west coast from Mount St. Elias to Acapulco and as far inland as Hudson Bay, Fort Leavenworth, and Austin, Texas. Cowan I, p 74. Cowan II, p 186; Forbes 1461; Hill, p 87; Holliday 319; Howes D542; Lada-Mocarski 120; Phillips Atlases 1457; Streeter sale 3323; Van Nostrand & Coulter California Pictorial, pp 38-39; Wheat Transmississippi West 474; Maps of the California Gold Region 19; Zamorano 80 30.
Acquisition: purchased from Chevreuil, Paris, 2001, $36,000.