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KOTZEBUE, Otto von (1787-1846). Entdeckungs-Reise in die Sud-Seeund nach der Berings-Strasse zur Erforschung einer nordostlichen Durchfahrt. Unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817, und 1818. Weimar, [Germany]. Gebruder Hoffmann, 1821, 1821.

Price: US$6823.24 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: 4to, 27.5cm, first edition,3 volumes in one, xviii,[iii],168 & 176 & [i],240,[i]pp., with 6 engraved maps, (5 folding) & 18 (of 19) hand-coloured aquatint plates from drawings by Choris, Eschscholtz and others, (3 double-page; one wanting.Includes 11 plates of butterflies) & 1 black and white plate), in the original boards with paper label, rebacked, a fine copy, uncut. A.B.9189; Hill 943, Lada Mocarski 80, Sabin 38284. Streeter VI-3511. Cowanp334. Howes K-258; Forbes I, 525. Kotzebue's important second Russian circumnavigation to explore for a northwest passage is a cornerstone work of Pacific exploration with important descriptions of Hawaii, California and Alaska. Kotzebue had earlier sailed with Captain Kruzenshtem in the first Russian circumnavigation, 1803-06. Leaving Kronstadt in 1815, the Rurik rounded Cape Hom and visited Chile, Easter Island, and the MarshallIslands. He explored Hawaii, and the North American coast including Alaska where he discovered the sound that now bears his name. Failing to find a northwest passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans, he was forced to turn south where he visited the Marshall Islands, the Marianas,and several other groups of Islands on his return to Europe. His description of the northwest coast of America is a important contribution. The second volume contains a description of California and the earliest scientific account of the Golden Poppy, California's state flower. In California Kotzebue also picked up Vassilii Petrovich Tarakanov (q.v.), a Russian hunter who had been captured by the Californians. Kotzebue's account of his ship's visit to San Francisco Bayin October of 1816 is accompanied by six plates. The third volume contains the important scientific report of naturalist Adelbert von Chamisso's Bemerkungen und Ansichten, on the voyage's results. It is noteable for his descriptions and remarks on the climate, flora, fauna,and peoples of California and the northwest coast of America."The work is of great importance in the early exploration of Alaska. "Rich in early original source material on Alaska. Kotzebue belonged to that group of outstanding Russian naval officers of the first half of the nineteenth century, which included Kruzenshtern, Golovnin, Lisianskii, Sarychev, andothers." (Lada-Mocarski). "It was on this voyage that Kotzebue discovered Kotzebue Sound in Alaska, thinking for a time as he sailed east that he had found the long sought north-east passage" (Streeter). The Hawaiian portion is extensive and contains important observations on life and customs during the reign of Kamehmeha I, whose famous "red vest" portrait by Choris is one of the illustrations. As a record of historical import,and as a collection of significant maps and beautiful plates, this work is one of he prime desiderata of Pacific voyages. Three distinct issues of the first edition were published: eighty-eight copies were produced on very fine "Velin papier" with the plates hand coloured (issue A); an issue on regular handmade laid paper, of which a limited number of copies have coloured plates (issue B); and an issue on laid paper with the portrait plates coloured, but the folding plates in sepia aquatint(issue C). The present copy is a fine example of the second issue with the plates hand coloured.

Seller: J. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC), Ottawa, ON, Canada

KOTZEBUE, Otto von (1787-1846).. Entdeckungs-Reise in die Sud-See und nach der Berings-Strasse zur Erforschung einer nordostlichen Durchfahrt. Unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817, und 1818.. Weimar: Gebruder Hoffmann, 1821., 1821.

Price: US$10300.00 + shipping

Description: 3 volumes. 4to., (10 3/8 x 8 2/8 inches) and (11 2/8 x 9 inches). 18-page subscribers list at end of volume III. 5 fine engraved folding maps, and one single page map, 3 hand-coloured aquatint frontispieces, 3 double-page hand-coloured aquatint plates, one folding and 12 full-page hand-coloured aquatint plates, including 11 of butterflies, one folding sepia aquatint plate, after Ludovik Choris, Eschscholtz and others, 2 folding letterpress tables (extensive spotting to text leaves). Original green cloth backed marbled paper boards to volume one, original brown paper backed grey paper boards to volumes II and III (extremities a bit worn, corners bumped). Provenance: with the ownership inscription of Dahl dated 1849 on the verso of the front free endpaper of volume III. First edition, mixed issue, volume one issue C (with one folding plate in sepia aquatint), volumes II and III, issue B, all plates with beautiful original hand-colour. "This second Russian expedition into the Pacific for scientific exploration, sponsored by Count Romanzoff, [departed] Kronstadt in 1815, the 'Rurik' rounded Cape Horn and visited Chile, Easter Island, and the Marshall Islands. Kotzebue explored the North American coast and Hawaii and searched unsuccessfully for a passage to the Arctic Ocean. The description of the northwest coast of America is a most important contribution. The second volume contains a description of California and the earliest scientific account of the Golden Poppy, California's state flower" (Hill) 943. Borba de Moraes I, 438; Brunet III:693; Forbes I, 525; Hill 943; Howes K-258; Kroepelien 670; Lada-Mocarski 80; Lipperheide La 7; Sabin 38284; Streeter sale VI:3511 Catalogued by Kate Hunter

Seller: Arader Galleries - AraderNYC, New York, NY, U.S.A.

von Kotzebue, Otto. Entdeckungs-Reise in die Süd-See und nach der Berings-Straße zur Erforschung einer nordöstlichen Durchfahrt. Unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817 und 1818, aud kosten Sr. Erlaucht des Herrn Reichs-Kanzlers Grafen Rumanzoff auf dem Schiffe Rurick unter dem Befehle des Lieutenants der Russisch-Kaiserlichen Marine. Gebrüder Hoffmann, Weimar, 1821.

Price: US$16800.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First edition in German, mixed issue (I: issue C, II-III: issue B; though see below). Three volumes. Weimar: Gebrüder Hoffmann, 1821. Quarto (vol. I: 10 3/8" x 8 5/16", 263mm x 211mm; voll. II-III: 11 ¼" x 8 15/16", 284mm x 226mm). [Full collation available.] With 28 plates: 15 hand-colored engravings, 3 folding hand-colored engravings, 1 folding sepia aquatint, 1 engraving, 5 folding engraved charts, 1 engraved chart and 2 folding letterpress tables. Collated complete against Streeter (though that copy was bound out of order in one volume) and Howes. Vol. I bound in quarter green cloth over marbled boards. On the spine, author, title (KOTZEBUES/ REISEN) and number gilt between gilt scrollwork. Voll. II-III bound in the publisher's tape-backed blue drab boards. On the spine, author, title and number in ink manuscript. Fore- and lower edges untrimmed. Extremities worn generally, with the fore-corners bumped. Spines sun-darkened. Small losses to the head- and tail-pieces. Splits to the hinges of vol. III but not affecting the volume's integrity. Foxed throughout, sometimes moderately, though the plates are mostly quite fresh. A few stub-tears to the folding maps. Voll. II-III with excellent margins, the sheets untrimmed. "Dahl 1849" in ink manuscript to the verso of the front free end-paper of vol. III. Lieutenant Otto von Kotzebue (1787-1846) was the commanding officer on Russia's second scientific exploration of the Pacific, sponsored by Count Romazoff. Kotzebue was born of a distinguished Brandenburg family in Reval (modern Tallinn, Estonia). Educated in the Russian naval system, he sailed with Krusenshtern on the first Russian navigation before commanding his own vessel, the Rurik, from 1815-1818. In various sorties Kotzebue explored the west coast of North America -- Hill calls the account "a most important contribution" -- as well as Hawaii, Chile, Easter Island, Brazil etc. He was accompanied by the artist Louis Choris, who would go on to publish his own Voyage Pittoresque autour du Monde from 1820, as well as by Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz and Adelbert von Chamisso. Chamisso contributed a narrative of the natural history and native populations of California and the Pacific Northwest (vol. III), the first appearance of many of his observations. The work (following the Russian edition, which did not have the plates of butterflies) was published in three distinct issues (in modern bibliographies this is usually given as A, B and C), which Kotzebue numbers 1-3 (vol. III, *1r (first page of the susbscribers' list). This third "Ausgabe" is usually dubbed A, the second B and the first C. Vol. I of the present set, with its sepia aquatint plate, is thus assigned issue C (viz. 1) and voll. II-III assigned issue B (viz. 2) because their plates are entirely colored. The paper for all three volumes is, however, laid. Of the 1849 ownership signature of Dahl nothing can be gleaned. Brunet III.693; Du Rietz/Kroepelien 670; Hill 943 (calling for 27 plates); Howes K 258; Sabin 38284; Streeter sale VI:3511; Zamorano 80, 48.

Seller: Arader Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.