Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842.

$3,750 · Offered by Book Collector Inc

Author: Charles Wilkes (1798-1877) Year: 1845 Publisher: Lea and Blanchard Place: Philadelphia Description: 6 volumes. lx+434 pages with frontispiece, 7 plates, 15 vignettes (including music scores), 67 woodcuts, tables and one internal folding map; xvi+476 pages with frontispiece, 13 plates, 14 vignettes (including music scores), 46 woodcuts, and 3 folding maps; xv+438 pages with 12 plates, 10 vignettes (including music scores) and 50 woodcuts; xv+539 pages with fold out frontispiece map, 15 plates, tables, 5 vignettes and 35 woodcuts; xii+558 pages with frontispiece fold out map, 15 plates, 3 vignettes, 49 woodcuts, tables, 3 maps and index; atlas 5 engraved folding maps and charts (one hand-colored) Quarto (10 3/4" x 7") bound in uniform half-blue calf over marbled boards, cornered in calf (Cowan p.683; Forbes 1574; Hill 1867; Haskell 2B, 17; Howes W-414; Rosove 353.B1) The first edition published by Sherman in 1844 of which 100 copies were printed for sale and 63 sets which were given to states and foreign nations and which 25 were destroyed in a fire. An unofficial edition by Lea And Blanchard in 1845 which was the same size and collation except for added half title in Atlas and limited to 150 sets. This the first available edition was limited to 1000 copies. Later octavo editions omitted the Atlas. In 1838, although not yet a seasoned naval line officer, Wilkes was experienced in nautical survey work, and was working with civilian scientists. Upon this background, he wa

• Binding: Hardcover

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