Mikebooks122 proudly presents a

RARE, ORIGINAL, FIRST EDITION OF: “NARRATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842.”

It was authored by the esteemed Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Printed by C. Sherman in Philadelphia, in 1850. 

This is a very important addition to a serious library specializing in American History, offered under no reserve!

This stand alone volume focuses on the exploration of the Pacific Western Group Islands to California to the Sooloo Sea, aka Philippines. It concludes with Currents and Whaling Grounds in that area of the world. All these areas are illustrated with folding maps. The depictions of the aboriginal peoples and their way of life are fascinating; including our Native American Indians.

The United States Exploring Expedition circumnavigated the globe under the command of Charles Wilkes between the summer of 1838 and the summer of 1842. In July 1842, almost immediately upon his return, Wilkes began work on the narrative, drawing on all of the data and logs assembled by the members of the expedition.

The aims of the expedition were to survey unfamiliar ocean regions and make scientific discoveries. Assigned to this duty were sloops of war Vincennes and Peacock, the brig Porpoise, the ship Relief, and the tenders Sea Gulf and Flying Fish. Aboard these vessels were naturalists, botanists, artists, and others with specialized training in scientific exploration, in addition to the officers and sailors.

The chief field of exploration in this expedition was the coast of the Antarctic continent, the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and the American northwest coast. In total, some 280 islands in the Pacific and adjacent waters and 800 miles of streams and coasts in the Oregon country were surveyed, and 1600 miles of the coast of Antarctica were charted. After leaving Hampton Roads in 1838, the expedition visited Madeira, the Cape Verde Islands, Brazil, Patagonia, the South Shetland Islands, and Peter I Island, Chile, and Peru, before proceeding to the Tuamotu or the Low Archipelago, the Samoa Islands, and New South Wales.  

The Wilkes Expedition played a major role in development of 19th-century science, particularly in the growth of the U.S. Scientific establishment. Many of the species and other items found by the expedition helped formed the basis of collections at the new Smithsonian Institution.

The expedition's scientists, derisively called "clam diggers" and "bug catchers" by navy crewmembers, 280 islands (mostly in the Pacific Ocean) were explored, and over 800 miles of Oregon were mapped. Of no less importance, over 60,000 plant and bird specimens were collected.

A staggering amount of data and specimens were collected during the expedition, including the seeds of 648 species, which were later traded, planted, and sent throughout the country. Dried specimens were sent to the National Herbarium, now a part of the Smithsonian Institution. There were also 254 live plants, which mostly came from the home stretch of the journey, that were placed in a newly constructed greenhouse in 1850, which later became the United States Botanic Garden.

Condition: Rare book remains in good condition [see images].  Volume four is bound in contemporary full calf leather. Blindstamped vignette on covers with front in gilt. Spine has raised band spine with gilt decorations.  PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH VIGNETTES AND WOODCUTS. MAPS OF THE “Pacific Western Group Islands”; “California”; “Sooloo Sea” aka Philippines”; “Currents and Whaling Grounds” Scattered light foxing. Foredge has scattered foxing. It measures approx.  10" tall x 7" wide x 1.5" thick. Volume contains 558 pages of text. This is quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed. 

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