Narrative of a voyage round the world, performed in HMS Sulphur…
Narrative of a voyage round the world, performed in Her Majesty's ship Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842, including details of the naval operations in China, from Dec. 1840 to Nov. 1841.
London: Henry Colburn, 1843.
Two volumes, octavo, xxxviii, (1, fly-title), 387, 16 (ads); vi, (1, ills.) 474pp. With two folding maps and a larger world chart in pocket of the binding, as issued; frontispiece in each volume and 17 other engraved plates, and 20 engraved vignettes in the text; 16 pp. publisher's advertisements at end of the first volume. Original blue-green cloth, gilt-lettered backstrips.
Island groups in the Pacific, and the First Opium War
First edition of Captain Sir Edward Belcher's narrative of the world voyage of the Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842, and 'an important surveying voyage to the Pacific' (Forbes). Belcher took command of the ship after Captain Beechey fell ill in Valparaiso. The expedition had been sent out to survey the Pacific coast of North and South America and the Pacific basin. 'The various harbours along the coast of California and northwest to Alaska were surveyed, and a month's journey in open boats was made up the Sacramento River from San Francisco Bay. The Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, the Society Islands, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, etc., were visited' (Hill).
First edition of Captain Sir Edward Belcher's narrative of the world voyage of the Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842, and 'an important surveying voyage to the Pacific' (Forbes). Belcher took command of the ship after Captain Beechey fell ill in Valparaiso. The expedition had been sent out to survey the Pacific coast of North and South America and the Pacific basin. 'The various harbours along the coast of California and northwest to Alaska were surveyed, and a month's journey in open boats was made up the Sacramento River from San Francisco Bay. The Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, the Society Islands, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, etc., were visited' (Hill).
The book is also an important text for the First Opium War as after visiting the several islands groups in the Pacific, Belcher arrived at Singapore in 1840, and was ordered back to China following the start of the war, and in the years that followed he was engaged in operations in the Canton River.
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Provenance: Early ink signature of J. Hannam in both vols; fragments of a library lending label.
Ferguson 3564; Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography', 1377; Hill, 102; Howes, B318; Lada-Mocarski, 117; Sabin, 4390; Wickersham, 6543a.
Condition Report: Binding worn at head and foot, spines faded, hinges cracked but sound,
Price (AUD): $4,200.00
US$2,772.30 Other currencies