The U. S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 (Four Volumes)

Washington: A. O. P. Nicholson, Printer. First Edition . Full Leather. Fair/No Dust Jacket. 4to. House of Representatives Ex. Doc. No. 121 published from 1855-56. Complete in four volumes being I, II, III, & VI. Volumes IV and V were never completed, though the supplemental material designated for them was later published by the U. S. Naval Observatory. All four volumes bound in full calf with red and black leather spine labels. VOLUME I: 556 pages, indexed, plus 11 plates including the nearly six foot long folding plate of the "Panoramic View from the Summit of Santa Lucia, Santiago." Leather covers are rubbed and scuffed. Contemporary inked name on title page, and elsewhere with some ink offsetting and bleed through to adjacent leaves. Scattered foxing, only minimally affecting edges of a few plates. VOLUME II: 300 pages, plus 36 plates and one folding map. Leather covers are rubbed and scuffed. Older inked name on title page and a few pages inside, has caused offsetting and ink bleed through to other pages including Plate VIII adjacent to page 112, "Indian Antiquities." Scattered light to moderate foxing, only minimally affecting any plates except for XXXVII adjacent to page 213, "Tachymenes Chilensis," a black and white plate. Other plates remain generally clean, and the hand colored bird plates are very nice. VOLUME III: 492 pages, plus one plate. Leather covers are heavily rubbed and portions of the spine cover are missing. Spine labels are present and intact. Top cover is loosened. Mostly light scattered foxing throughout. VOLUME VI: 420 pages. Leather covers are scuffed and heavily worn. Spine cover is mostly detached with some portions missing. Spine labels are chipped on edges, though mostly intact with good lettering. Top hinge (internal) is broke and there is a little separation between front end page and title page. Foxing and offsetting, mostly on first and last leaves, and title page is a little darkened. Due to the weight and size of this set, extra charges will apply for Priority and/or International shipping.