Voyage Round the World, embracing the principle events of the narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition.

Philadelphia: Geo. W. Gorton, 1849. 8vo. xx, 668 pp. FIRST SINGLE-VOLUME EDITION. With 178 text engravings. Half-morocco and cloth, binding rubbed; text lightly spotted and foxed. An interesting provenance, as this copy was presented to John H. Drew from the captain of the ship, Southern Cross, in the East Indies (as set forth in the contemporary annotation on the fly-leaf). Item #15303

First single-volume edtion, condensed from the five-volume work first edition published in 1844. Wilkes (1798-1877), an American naval officer, captain and explorer, describes his naval journeys. Originally focusing on travel within the United States, this work is expanded to include visits to South America, Antarctica, the Australian continent, around the Cape of Good Hope, and the Pacific islands, including Hawaii and Samoa. The author includes fascinating material concerning the economic and political conditions in what were at the time places not often traveled, as well as detailed information about manners and customs of the people encountered. Observations on natural history, especially as observed on board ship, are of significant interest.

Price: $450.00

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