I have just recieved my beautiful model of HMS Beagle which will be used for our exhibition on Evolution here at the Danish Natural History Museum. Thanks Premier Ship Models. Buyer of HMS Beagle Model Ship (Jan 09) MORE >>
I could not believe how quick it arrived. It was a gift for my Father who is over the moon with it. I hope to do business with you again. Jane Cumiskey, Buyer of J S Elcano (+) Kit (UK Aug 08) MORE >>
Just to say the
Flying Fish arrived and was a great success so thank you for all your help and
advice.Linda Boereboom, Buyer of the Flying Fish Model Ship (UK Oct 08) >> MORE
The model
arrived yesterday afternoon and is absolutely
fabulous!
Many thanks -
it takes pride and place in my office!Gordon
Harris , HMS Endeavour Model Ship Platinum (Jersey Nov 08)>> MORE
Thank you for sending the model HMS Bounty so promptly. The model arrived extremely well packaged, and in excellent condition.Mark Stevens , Buyer of HMS Bounty Kit (France Nov 08 ) >> MORE
I am sending this E Mail to thank you for the swift delivery of a very fine model which will give me & my grandchildren many years of pleasure.Ron Eccles, Buyer of Sailing Dinghy (UK Nov 08) >> MORE
Thanks for the opportunity to work with Premier Ship Models on Tidewaters model projects! Throughout the process though Premier has been
responsive to Tidewaters needs.Chris
KastellaManager Purchasing &
Administration
Tidewater(Dec 08) >> MORE
Pictures are great, true craftsmanship! Well done, the quality of
the wood, speaks for itself too.Best Wishes to the team.Khalid Lodhi , Buyer HMS Bounty Model Ship (UK Nov 08)>> MORE
Unlike many model ships in our collection, Astrolabe was used by the French for scientific, ethnographic and
geographic studies. This was in order to confirm or correct the positions of Islands and other landmasses critical to sail navigation.
The number of places she visited is quite unique as evidenced by her historic
voyages below. No amount of history could do justice to this magnificent
ship, as the amount of text required would be too great.
A very brief summary of her voyages is detailed below.
Her first major expedition as Coquille was from August 11, 1822 to March 24,
1825, where her inteniary was:
Ascension Island
St Catherine Island
Brazil
The Falklands
Peru
Tahiti
Tonga
Fiji
Santa Cruz
Solomon Islands
New Britain
New Zealand
Ellice and Gilbert Islands
New Guinea
Mauritius
St Helena
Renamed Astrolabe in honour of one of La Perouses ships, on her second voyage (from
1826 to 1829), she sailed the Australian and Western Pacific Islands (no less
than 120 Islands.
In 1836, Frances Emperor Louis-Philippe decided to
mount an expedition to locate the tough magnetic pole (which they located
approximately), with Dumont Durville as its leader in Astrolabe.
From Sept 7, 1837 to November 7, 1840, she visited Tenerife, Rio
de Janeiro, Chile,
Pacific Islands, Philippines,
Dutch West Indies and Tasmania.
During this trip, 22 of her crew died and another 27 left the expedition
because of illness and desertion. However, the ship brought back the largest
quantity of natural history specimen ever garnered in a single expedition.
Dumont Durvilles' account of Astrolabe third voyage ran to 23
volumes with 5 atlases, but he died before it was published.
The ships previous 2 voyages resulted in 7 volumes and 4 atlases by Duperrey
and 14 volumes and 5 atlases by Dumont Durville.
Brosse, Great Voyages of Discovery. Dumont Durville, Two voyages to the South Seas by Captain Jules
S-C Dumont Durville. Dunmore, French Explorers in the Pacific.
