Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Beering's Strait, to co-operate with the polar expeditions: performed in His Majesty's Ship Blossom … in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28. Published by authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831. The so-called "Admiralty Edition," the first and best issue of a most important voyage; 4to, 2 volumes, pp. [iii]-xxi, [3], 392; [iii]-vii, [1], [393]-742; complete copy with 23 engraved plates and 3 maps (2 folding), bound without the half-titles in contemporary marbled boards neatly rebacked in calf, maroon morocco labels; tide marks in the fore-margins of 7 plates in volume I, boards scuffed, extremities lightly rubbed; very good, sound and clean set. "Beechey's book is one of the most valuable of modern voyages and relates to extensive visits to Pitcairn Island, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Society Islands, and Tahiti, Alaska, Hawaii, Macao, Okinawa, and the coast of California. His book provides an important account of Monterey and San Francisco before the American conquest … Beechey describes the Eskimos of the north, and relates his meeting with John Adams, last survivor of the mutiny on the Bounty, who gave Beechey a lengthy account" (Hill). Cowan II, p. 42; Ferguson 1418; Forbes 772; Hill I, p. 19; Howes B-309; Lada-Mocarski 95; Sabin 4347. Item #62557
Price: $3,500.00
