Narrative Of The United States Expedition During The Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842

Philadelphia: Lea Blanchard, 1845. Third (First Octavo) Edition, one of 1,000 copies printed (the first two quarto editions were printed in only 100 and 150 copies respectively). This, the first great naval scientific expedition to be sponsored by the United States, consisted of the flagship Vincennes and five other vessels, and numerous civilian naturalists, botanists, artists and other scientists, in additional to sailors and officers. “The chief fields of exploration…were the coast of the Antarctic continent, the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and the American northwest coast. Some 280 islands in the Pacific and adjacent waters and 800 miles of streams and coasts in the Oregon country were surveyed, and 1,600 miles of the coast of Antarctica were laid down. Wilkes Land in Antarctica perpetuates the name of the explorer. Much valuable information is given on the Columbia River, the Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Sacramento Valley. A survey of the Pacific whale fisheries was also completed. The Wilkes expedition made port at Madeira, the Cape Verde Islands, Brazil, Patagonia, the South Shetland Islands and Peter I Island, Chile, Peru, the Tuamotu, Society, and Samoan Islands, Australia, [New Zealand], Antarctica, New Zealand, the Tongan, Fijian, and Hawaiian Islands, Oregon Territory, California, the Micronesian Islands, the Philippines an Sulus, Singapore, and other ports in the Far East.” (Hill p. 615) Bagnall 6072. Ferguson 4209. Hill p. 325. Howes W-414. Sabin 103994. Smith, American Travellers Abroad, W80. Strathern & Edwards 609n. Streeter VI 3324. 5 Volumes text plus Atlas. large 8vo. pp. lx, 434; xv, 476; xv, 438; xvi, 539; xv, 558; [ff. 2]. with half-titles. 9 double-page engraved maps, 64 engraved plates & 5 large folding maps in the atlas (1 hand-coloured). 2 double-leaf tables in Vol. I. numerous text illus. original blind & gilt-stamped cloth (some fraying & chipping to extremities, some foxing to plates & adjacent leaves)