Lot 06205

“Recueil des principaux plans des ports et des rades de la mer Méditerranée, estraits de ma carte en douze feuilles dediee a M.le Duc de Choiseul”, Marseilles, 1764. FIRST and ONLY edition of the rare collection with 170 charts, of the ports comprising all Mediterranean. Complete, the only version of Roux’s work with all charts ever published. In Oblong 4to, (18x26cm), fine modern Burgundy full leather, 2-3 charts restored at edges, otherwise a fine marine set. Heavily used at Greek seas, as the manuscript added coastline profiles of Mytilini and Paros islands charts, suggest. Up to the middle of 18^th century Eastern Mediterranean ports were practically uncharted. French Levant explorations of 1730-1760, mainly under Chambert, gathered manuscript material with relevant soundings. Joseph Roux (fils) published a new chart of the Mediterranean in 1764 (still used by Nelson 40 years later). At the same time, a more detailed collection of the main ports appeared and was destined exclusively to the mariners. It had a great success, but the French prohibited any further publication in mid 1770s. According L. Navari, three versions appeared. The short, with 66 charts (destined to the shipping of Western part), the regular with 121 charts (covering all Mediterranean, but with only the main ports of the eastern part) and the current one with all available charts of Eastern Mediterranean added (destined to the shipping of the whole Levant). Very Rare.