First edition of this finely illustrated book which includes aquatint views of the Philippines, Macao, Nihoa (Hawaii) and the Northwest coast of America. Three of the engravings are of Hawaiian subjects and the text describes two important, early visits to the islands in 1787 and 1788. 'This is one of the early and fundamental books on the Northwest coast of America in general and on Alaska in particular. In addition to his voyages from China to America in 1788 and 1789, which form the principal part of this work, Captain Meares describes his earlier voyage to the Northwest coast from Bengal, which took place in 1786 and 1787… This work, profusely illustrated and with many valuable historical documents appended to the main narrative, is of great importance in the study of early trading in furs originating on the Northwest coast and of a serious conflict between the English and the Spaniards in this connection…' (Lada-Mocarski).

First edition of this finely illustrated book which includes aquatint views of the Philippines, Macao, Nihoa (Hawaii) and the Northwest coast of America. Three of the engravings are of Hawaiian subjects and the text describes two important, early visits to the islands in 1787 and 1788. 'This is one of the early and fundamental books on the Northwest coast of America in general and on Alaska in particular. In addition to his voyages from China to America in 1788 and 1789, which form the principal part of this work, Captain Meares describes his earlier voyage to the Northwest coast from Bengal, which took place in 1786 and 1787… This work, profusely illustrated and with many valuable historical documents appended to the main narrative, is of great importance in the study of early trading in furs originating on the Northwest coast and of a serious conflict between the English and the Spaniards in this connection…' (Lada-Mocarski).

'John Meares was sent out in 1796 from Calcutta, by a group of merchants, to enter into the fur trade of the Northwest coast of America. Establishing himself at Nootka Sound and flying the British flag, he built the first vessel to be launched in northern waters, made important discoveries, and explored the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The discoveries by Meares were part of the basis for the claim of Great Britain to Oregon. Competition with the Spanish almost caused war between the two countries and the struggle became known as the Nootka controversy. The Spanish seizure of his ships led to the convention by which the Spanish claims to any northern territory were finally disallowed. This important narrative gives a very full account of the Indian nations of Northwest America, describing their villages, languages, manners and customs. It also contains a separate account of the voyage of the Iphigenia, commanded by Captain William Douglas, which visited the Sandwich Islands and Nootka Sound…' (Hill).

This is a particularly grand voyage book, stylishly put together, and notably handsome. The substantial list of subscribers numbers approximately 300 persons: an interesting mix of smart London society, the Navy, booksellers, Cornishmen and the Prince of Wales, it shows that it must have been a very substantial success. Certainly much of the money raised by subscription must have been needed to pay for the ambitious plates and text. The plates are fine specimens of uncoloured aquatints, while the text was printed by "logography", a printing process championed by the founder of The Times, John Walter, in which the most frequently found combinations of letters were welded together to form "logotypes", thereby enabling the compositor to work faster (see Abbey, and John Feather, "John Walter and the Logographic Press", Publishing History I, 1977).

::