This volume with 78 plates is part of Joseph Paul Gaimard's
Voyages en Scandinavie, en Laponie, au Spitzberg et aux Fer?e pendant les ann?es 1838-1840 sur la corvette La Recherche, command?e par M. Fabvre. This volume is entitled Atlas de Physique. The work was published in Paris by A. Bertrand between 1842 and 1855. This work detailed the most important scientific expedition to Scandinavia. This volume features 78 aquatint engravings or lithographs, the majority are sea life or anatomical plates, with 6 of birds.

The work was originally divided into several sections depicting the voyage, magnetic fields, Aurora Borealis, geology, geography and more. Several people contributed to the work including Marmier, Lottin, Bravais, Robert, Durocher, Martins, Vahl, and more. The engravings and lithographs for the work were done by Mayer, Lauvergne, and Giraud. This volume is credited to the original drawings of M. Bravais.

Joseph Paul Gaimard (1793-1858) was French naturalist and naval surgeon. He participated in four scientific voyages including Freycinet's on the 'Uranie', the search for La Perouse on the 'Astrolabe', on the 'Recherche' on an expedition to Iceland and Greenland, and finally another on the 'Recherche' that explored Northern Norway, Lapland, Spitzbergen, and the Faroe Islands.

"The commission was instructed to investigate and report on all phases of science, on history, and social conditions of the northern countries mentioned in the title. The Scandinavian countries, Sweden and Norway, and the Spitsbergen archipelago were visited during the summer of 1838 and 1839, and in the summer of 1840 a trip was made to Archangel" (Arctic Bibl.). "Born and educated in the French Midi, Paul Gaimard became one of the most widely traveled naturalists in the history of scientific exploration? serving as director of the Scientific Commission for the North, he conducted extensive explorations in Lapland and on Spitzbergen and the Faroes. With the latter journey (1838-1840) Gaimard's frenetic, albeit highly productive, wandering apparently came to an end" (DSB V, p. 225).

Provenance: Bookplate reading "Graf V Meran"

Paper Size ~ 12 3/4" by 19 3/4"

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.