Beechey, Frederick William

Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beering's Strait, to Co-Operate with the Polar Expeditions: Performed in His Majesty's Ship Blossom ... in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831



2 volumes, 4to (10 3/4 x 8 3/8 in.; 273 x 212 mm). Three engraved maps (2 folding), 23 engraved or lithographed plates; one folding map with mended tear, some spotting and offsetting, lacking half-titles and errata slip. Contemporary diced calf with gilt-ruled border, marbled edges; rebacked, a few scrapes and stains.

Frank S. Streeter (sale, Christie's NY, 16 April 2007, lot 25)

Hill 93; Howes B-309; Sabin 4347; Wickersham 6541

First edition of "one of the most valuable of modern voyages ..."(Hill).

Beechey's expedition went to the Bering Strait and beyond to meet the Franklin and Parry parties, whom Beechey expected to arrive from the east. Franklin's team arrived within fifty leagues of Beechey's base, but the weather forced them to turn back. The book describes visits to Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, Alaska, Hawaii, Macao, Okinawa, and the coast of California. On Pitcairn, Beechey met the last survivor of the Bounty mutiny, John Adams. He also gives an important account of Monterey and San Francisco before the American conquest.