The zoology of the Voyage au pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes I'Astrolabe et la Zélée exécuté par ordre du rol pendant les années 1837–1838 –1839–1840 sous le commandement de M. Dumontd'Urville (1842–1854): titles, volumes, plates, text, contents, proposed dates and anecdotal history of the publication

Abstract

The Atlas d'Histoire Naturelle, Zoologie by Hombron and Jacquinot of the Voyage au pôle sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zélée exécuté par ordre du roi pendant les années 1837–1838–1839–1840 sous le commandement de M. Dumont-d'Urville (1842–1854) comprises 40 plates. These plates were distributed in 28 livraisons published between 1842 and 1854, and their publication dates are unknown. Consequently the indication dates of the new zoological species described in the 3 text volumes, (vol. III: 1853; vol. IV: 1853; vol. V: 1854) have taken priority. But according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1985), binomial named plates constitute a valid indication. The contents of the 28 livraisons are listed. Although an objective of this present study was to provide publication dates for the Atlas plates, the establishment of precise dates is considered unlikely. This paper proposes that date-stamps on the Atlas in the British Library should be adopted as dates of publication. Evidence supporting this decision is provided, including an anecdotal history of the voyage publication, which generates insight into the reasons for the many delays experienced during the production of the zoology Atlas and descriptive text.

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