Finding Her Place: The Woman Behind the Naturalist

Designed, printed and bound by Rhiannon Alpers
2018
Edition of 40
9.5 x 8.75" closed; 8 sections
Deluxe box available

About the Book:
"Finding Her Place" shines a spotlight on the extraordinary story of the first woman to ever circumnavigate the globe. In 1766 on a ship, Jeanne Baret secretly disguised herself as a man to join the scientific expedition led by her lover and colleague, Philibert Commerson, aboard the French ship the Etoile. Though her gender was eventually discovered, Baret persevered, taking on a variety of roles throughout the voyage - botanist, herbalist, nurse, and cataloger of over 630 plant specimens collected during the journey.

This limited edition artist book traces the arc of Baret's groundbreaking expedition, weaving together perspectives from Baret herself, as well as three other key figures on the voyage: Commerson, the ship's captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville, and another crew member. While Baret was not able to document her experiences directly due to the forbidden nature of her participation, the narrative draws upon historical accounts, personal anecdotes, and parallel examples to fill in the gaps and paint a vivid, nuanced portrait of her journey.

Through this multi-layered storytelling approach, the book illuminates not only Baret's pioneering role as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe but also the hardships, discoveries, and moments of extreme trauma that defined the expedition. Readers are invited to immerse themselves in the selected sights, sounds, and challenges of life aboard the Etoile of an expedition lasting more than seven years, and to gain a deeper appreciation for Baret's remarkable perseverance and the lasting impact of her botanical contributions.

Ultimately, this story is a celebratory tribute to this trailblazing figure, whose story has inspired generations and continues to resonate powerfully in our time.

Book Production Details:
Removable magnetic spine binding opens completely back-to-back, with digitally produced specimen chart hidden within. Hahnemuhle Bugra Fawn, folio maps letterpress, printed from polymer plates, adapted from French expedition maps from the published logs “Voyage Autour du Monde par la Frégate du Rio la Boudeuse et la Fluté L’Etoile,” with thanks to the Internet Archive for their digital copy of the book. Crane’s Lettra Ecru, 90lb specimen folios letterpress, printed from linoleum blocks and polymer plates. The plant outlines were laser cut and secured with Japanese tissue. Laser-cut specimens were adapted from the original plant specimens collected by Commerson and Baret on the expedition and archived in the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Interleaved vellum sheets with macro photography by the artist laser printed on Neenah UV Ultra II. Spine bound with Gmund Bier Paper Accordion (made with brewer's spent grain).

Additional Details:
Many thanks to Glynis Ridley for her inspiration and kindness in allowing the inclusion of excerpts from The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe by Glynis Ridley, copyright © 2010. Used by permission of Crown Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All Rights Reserved.