‎"BERNARD, JEAN FREDERIC.‎
‎Recueil de voiages au nord, contenant divers memoires tres utiles au commerce & a la navigation. vol. 1 & 2. (Included: ""Relation de L'Islande & ""Journal d'un Voyage au Spitzbergen et au Groenlandt""). - [RARE WORK ON VARIOUS TRAVELS IN THE NORTH]‎

‎Amsterdam, Bernard, 1715. 8vo. Uniformly bound in two contemporary full calf binding with five raised bands with richly gilt spines. Traces from white paper-label to upper compartment of spines. Light wear to extremities, corners bumped and some of gilting worn off. Plates chipped at edges and maps with a few tears, but generally a nice and clean set. (8), XLIV, (6), 116, 200 pp. + frontispiece, 4 folded maps and 6 plates"" (4), 298 pp. + 16 plates. ‎

Reference : 60841

‎Uncommon first edition (the two first volumes) of this compilation of Northern voyages. A total of 10 volumes was published in the period 1715 – 1738. These first two volumes concentrate on Greenland and Iceland. “Bernard claimed that the ‘science de voyager’ required such a broad range of knowledge that no one individual could hope to encompass all relevant disciplines. Among these, he included natural history, astronomy, geography, hydrography, philosophy, and commerce. He criticized most published travel accounts for their contradictions and lack of precision. His collection of voyages was intended to correct these faults and the list of instructions was supplied to guide the ‘voyageur curieux & philosophe’ in making reliable observations.” (Harris, Rethinking the Mediterranean, p. 239) “Recueil de voyages au Nord was published in ten volumes between 1715 and 1738 and was met with great success. It focused on a variety of territories of the “North”, from Iceland to Japan. Already very familiar with existing travel literature of the time, the editor, in addition to compiling previously published travel literature, produced translations and wrote accounts in which, while seeking to satisfy the reader’s curiosity, he insisted on ways to make each journey useful.” (Muceni, L’apport d’un éditeur des Lumières à la littérature viatique de son temps : Jean-Frédéric Bernard et le Recueil de voyages au Nord). Sabin 4935Leclerc I, 1264: ""Collection tres estimee"" (Referring to the first 4 volumes).‎