Asia - GARNIER (Francis) & DOUDART DE LAGRÉE. ATLAS du Voyage d'exploration en Indo-Chine, effectué pendant les années 1866, 1867 et 1868 par une commission française présidée par M. le capitaine de frégate Doudart de Lagrée et publié par les ordres du ministre de la Marine sous la direction de M. le lieutenant de vaisseau Francis Garnier. First part: MAPS and PLANS drawn up by Messrs Doudart de Lagrée, Francis Garnier and Lieutenant Delaporte. Second part: PITTORAL ALBUM executed according to the drawings of M. le lieutenant de vaisseau Delaporte. Paris, Hachette et Cie, 1873. 2 parts in one folio volume (without the 2 volumes of text); brown half-chagrin with corners, spine ribbed and decorated (period binding). Numerous scuff marks. First edition. First part (maps and plans): [3] ff. (false-title, title, table) and 22 plates, 4 of which on double page. Second part (picturesque album): XII pp. (false-title, title, introduction and explanation of plates): 37 (of 48) lithographs after Janet-Lange, Clerget, Laurens, Gilbert, Ciceri... of which 8 (of 14) in colour, the others in black on tinted background, some on double page. Missing plates 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 32, 35, 38, 43. Boards 11-12, 13-14, 21, 24 and 25 are detached, slightly browned (with traces of tacks at the corners for some). Old circular staining and very light marginal soiling to the rest of the plates and maps. Apart from these defects, overall good condition. Marie Joseph François Garnier known as Francis Garnier (1839-1873) was a French naval officer and explorer. He became famous for spending most of his life exploring the Mekong. His career as an officer and his heroic end made him one of the leading figures in the history of the French Navy. This expedition, under the command of Doudart de Lagrée, left Saigon in June 1866, under the patronage of Vice-Admiral de La Grandière, and set off up the Mekong. As second in command, Garnier was responsible for hydrographic and meteorological work, as well as drawing up the voyage chart. On the death of Doudart de Lagrée in Yunnan, he took charge of the mission and headed for the Yangtze valley, which he sailed down to Shanghai. He returned to Saigon two years after leaving, in June 1868. He immediately returned to France, where he was assigned to the Navy's maps and plans department and completed his mission report. Very slight rubbing to the edges of the boards and on the cuts. A very fine copy, the interior extremely well preserved without foxing and with very fresh colours. Rare first edition printed in an edition of 800 copies. (Cordier Sinica, 329; Indonisica, 1012-13; Howgego II, 340-343; Numa Broc Asie, 206; Chadenat 54).