This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/18/2025
WILKES, Charles (1798-1877). Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838-1842. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1845. 5 text volumes, lacking atlas volume. Imperial 8vos. Half-titles present. 9 folding maps, and 3 folding tables, and numerous vignettes in text (maps and tables toned, foxed). Original brown cloth stamped in blind and gilt (head- and tail-caps chipped, some wear to bindings, holes on joints, binding with later color correction, text foxed, a few gutters overopened). Very good. FIRST TRADE EDITION, unofficial edition, and the last to be issued with an atlas (atlas lacking here), limited to 1,000 copies, preceded by the official government edition, published in 1844. Wilkes' preferred edition over the quarto edition with its “beautiful style, and stereotyped - the paper and execution fully equal, and, in some respects as a library and reading book". THE FIRST UNITED STATES EXPLORATION EXPEDITION was the “most ambitious Pacific expeditions ever attempted" (Forbes). Wilkes surveyed the whole Northwest coast with his team of scientists and artists to survey unfamiliar ocean regions and make scientific discoveries in the South Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, California, Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena. In 1840, Wilkes discovered the Antarctic Coast just west of the Balleny Islands by sailing a substantial length of the coast for the first time, establishing that it is indeed a continent. Ferguson 4209; Forbes 1574; Haskell 2B; Hill 1867; Howes W-414; Rosove 353.B1.