Voyage historique de l'Amerique meridionale. Paris: Charles-Antoine Jombert, 1752.
2 volumes. 4to (256 x 200 mm). [xxii], 554; [ii], 316, [vi], [viii], [3]-309, [iii] pp. Engraved frontispiece to each volume, 54 engraved scenes, maps and plans, mostly folding, on 53 sheets. 19th century half black calf over marbled boards, rebacked with black morocco, spines gilt-lettered. Several plates browned in second volume, a few instances of light foxing, bindings rubbed and somewhat worn.

FIRST EDITION, PARIS ISSUE. French translation of this account of the journey of Ulloa & Juan y Santacilla, who were sent by the French Academy of Sciences to present-day Ecuador to measure the meridian arc at the equator. They determined after nine years study that the earth is not perfectly spherical, but an oblate spheroid. Ulloa later served as governor of Huancavelica in Peru and as the first Spanish governor of West Louisiana. Sabin 36812.