OUTHIER, (ABBÉ R.).

Journal d'un Voyage au Nord, En 1736. & 1737.

Paris, Piget - Durand, 1744. 4to. Contemp. full sprinckled calf. 5 raised bands. Richly gilt compartments. Titlabel with gilt lettering. Some repairs to spineends and fronthinge at upper compartment. Light edgewear. Stamp on haltitle and title-page. Engraved titlevignette. engraved vignette with Lapp and reindeer on sledge. (8),238,(2) pp., 1 folded, partly handcoloured, map and 11 (of ) folded engraved plates. Textillustrations. Light toning and some scattered light brownspots.

First edition of Outhier's account of the scientific voyage to Lapland lead by Maupertouis.

"In 1736-1737 the Academy sponsored an expedition to Lapland to measure the length of a degree of latitude near the North Pole, in order to determine the actual figure of the earth; and Outhier, "dont la capacité dans l’Ouvrage que nous allions faire, etoit connuë" (Maupertuis, La Figure de la terre, P. xv), was invited to participate. He assisted in the astronomical observations, drew eighteen maps of the lands through which they passed, and studied the religious and social customs of the Lapps. His detailed journal of the voyage was published in 1744."(DSB).
Poggendorff II, 340.

Order-nr.: 54329