Recreations Instructives. Campagne d'un Baleinier autour du monde. Croquis et notes d'un officier du bord

Author Achille Saint-Aulaire (1801 - 1889)

Publisher Aubert & Cie (French)

Datec 1845

Object number00018500

NameBook

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 312 x 237 x 13 mm, 0.15 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionAn iIlustrated children's book by Achille Sainte-Aulaire titled 'Recreations Instructives. Campagne d'un Baleinier autour du monde. Croquis et notes d'un officier du bord' [Instructive Recreation. A trip round the world on board a Whaler. Sketches and notes by one of the officers]. The book describes the voyage of Sainte-Aulaire as a lieutenant on the French whaler ADVENTURE. The book is illustrated with lithographs depicting the various countries visited and their inhabitants, also the whalers' boats, implements and scenes of whaling in progress.HistoryThis is rare and beautiful book of lithographs, describes for children the adventures of the French in the Pacific in the 1840's. Partly designed as a means of teaching English, the lavishly illustrated book proceeds across the world providing a glimpse into the 'exotic' locations that the French at home were excited to read about. The book tells of the voyage of the French whaling ship ADEVENTURE. The opening caption reads: "In the month of February, I was engaged as a lieutenant on board the ADVENTURE fitted out in Havre for the whale fishery. We stood out to at sea on the 20th February. On the 13th the peak of Tenererife came in sight." After a stay in Cape Town, the ship heads into the Southern ocean. Here various episodes occur, such as plate 10, a scene of water spouts, and the overturning of a whaleboat. Plate 11 in the East Indies portrays an attack by pirates. Plate 12 the travellers visit the memorial erected in Vanikoro by Dumont D'Urvllle to La Perouse. Continuing on the voyage ADVENTURE comes to the Marquesas, Hawaii, and Chilli, before travelling around the Horn and arriving back at Le Havre "after we had been ploughing the seas all-round the globe for two years". SignificanceThis extensively illustrated book is a visual imagery of France at sea and how the French perceived the countries and people they encountered. It is also a portrayal of the brutality and danger of whaling although veiled in the excitement of shipboard adventure.