ALBERT Ier (Prince of Monaco) - Lot 91

ALBERT Ier (Prince of Monaco) La Carrière d'un navigateur. Paris : Plon-Nourrit et Cie, 1902. - In-16, 187 x 122 : VIII, 395 pp. 2 maps. Red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, ornate ribbed spine, quintuple gilt fillet inside, gilt edges (G. Vauthrin). Rare first edition of this work by oceanographer Albert I (1848-1922), sovereign of Monaco from 1889 to 1922, known as the "Prince Savant" and founder of the city-state's Oceanographic Museum. The author recounts his career as a navigator, including his scientific expeditions to the Azores and Spitsbergen. "I set forth here the emotions of a navigator matured in the culture of truth; the fruit of impassive resolutions: a work advised by the scientific and upright spirit that brings peoples together in the legitimate conquest of well-being and morality" (Foreword). Some episodes had previously appeared in magazines. This original edition is virtually impossible to find on the market today. Published by Plon, it was printed in Monaco. It includes two large color folding maps, one relating to "La première croisière de la 'Princesse Alice' aux régions arctiques", the other to "Deux dernières croisières de 'L'Hirondelle' et (à) la première croisière de la 'Princesse Alice' aux Açores". Exemplaire portant sur le faux titre la signature autographe de l'auteur. Très bel exemplaire reli relié à l'époque par Germain Vauthrin (1848-1922), parfaitement conservé.