- 244
Meares, John.
Description
- Voyages made in the years 1788 and 1789, from China to the north west coast of America. To which are prefixed an introductory narrative of a voyage performed in 1786, from Bengal, in the ship Nootka; observations on the probable existence of a North West Passage; and some account of the trade between the north west coast of America and China; and the latter country and Great Britain. London: Printed at the Logographic Press for J. Walter, 1790, first edition, stipple engraved portrait of Meares by C. Westland after W. Beechey, 10 engraved maps and charts (3 folding), 17 plates (most sepia aquatints, 7 folding), list of subscribers, one or two flaws affecting text as at E1, short tear to first map, some spotting, [Sabin 47260; Wagner, Northwest Coast, 758-766; Abbey, Travel, 594; Hill, p.195; Streeter VI 3491]
Meares, John. An answer to Mr George Dixon, late commander of the Queen Charlotte, in the service of Messrs. Etches and Company... in which the remarks of Mr Dixon on the voyages to the north west coast of America, &c. lately published, are fully considered and refuted. London: Printed at the Logographic Press, and sold by J. Walter, 1791, first edition, half-title
Dixon, Captain George. Further remarks on the voyages of John Meares, Esq. in which several important facts, misrepresented in the said Voyages, relative to geography and commerce, are fully substantiated. To which is added, a letter from Captain Duncan, containing a decisive refutation of several unfounded assertions of Mr Meares and a final reply to his answers. London: Printed for John Stockdale and George Golding, 1791, first edition
together 4 works in one volume, 4to (292 x 230mm.), contemporary speckled calf, roll-tool border gilt, flat spine richly gilt, morocco label
Provenance
The Library of the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Granard, removed from Castle Forbes, County Longford, sale in these rooms, 21 July 1993, lot 452
Literature
Condition
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Catalogue Note
it is very rare to find dixon's remarks and further remarks, with meares' answer and meare's voyages all bound together in a single volume and in a fine contemporary binding. the three pamphlets are "now amongst the rarest in north-west americana." (Howay)
John Meares (c.1756-1809) formed a company at Calcutta in the 1780s for opening and exploiting trade with the American Northwest. The first voyage described is that of the Nootka (1786-87) which overwintered disastrously at Prince William Sound, and was only saved by the arrival of Dixon and Portlock. The voyage of 1788-89 was marked by the seizure of the vessels Iphigenia, Argonaut, and the Princess Royal by a Spanish frigate in Nootka Sound in 1789 which nearly led to a war between Britain and Spain. Both voyages are very important in the history of discovery in the American Northwest and Alaska. Both Dixon and Portlock published their own accounts of the events described (see lots 237 and 246).