Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$169.15 + shipping
Description: 8vo, 23,5cm, First edition. vi,(2),474p., with 11 engraved plates, (inc. frontis) 9 engraved vignette illustrations, in the Original ribbed blue cloth, gilt spine titles, a fine copy (gar).
Seller: J. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC), Ottawa, ON, Canada
Price: US$540.61 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: "Published under the Authority of the Lords Commanders of the Admiralty". Vol. II only (of 2 published). Chapter I deals with the visits to Tahiti and Raratonga. Other visits are to the Feejee Islands, Port Carteret, Port Gower & Turtle Bay, Port Victoria, Guinea Coast, Arimoa, Floating Islands, Jobie, Pigeon Island, Amboina, bouro, Maccasar, Solombo and Singapore, where they recieve instructions to proceed to China. Then follows the Naval actions in Canton River and attacks on the Forts of Chuenpee and Tycocktow, possesion of Hing Kong, storming the Forts of the Bocca Tigris and much more until the Sulphur returns to Singapore. The remaining voyage takes in Ceylon and the seychelles and includes Natural History observations. St Helena, Ascension Islands and Cape Blanco are the last visits before returning to England. Interesting Appendices include Nicaragua, Marquesas, Kuikahi and, most importantly, a large Appendix on "The Regions of Vegetation; being an analysis of the Distribution of Vegetable Forms over the surface of the Globe, in connexion with Climate and Physical Agents, by Richard Brinsley Hines, Surgeon R.N., which includes Australia and New Zealand. This last Appendix occupies Pages 325 to 460. Followed by the Index. Well illustrated with 11 Full-Page Engraved Plates and 9 Vignette illustrations. Frontis Plates illustrates the attack on the Chinese War Junks at Chuenpee Creek. Contemporary Green Half-Leather Binding with 5 Raised Bands to spine. Gilt Title on Red Ground in 2nd compartment and Gilt Decoration filling the others. Green cloth covered boards with Leather corners. 474 Pages, 900g, 8 1/2" Tall. Some edge wear, corners worn through. Previous owner's name on ffep and blank preliminary page. No other inscriptions. Some light foxing to plates. Only an occasional spot on text pages. Hinges sound and text block firm. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Bay Books, Penzance, United Kingdom
Price: US$900.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 2 volumes, xxxviii, 387 pages, vi, 474 pages; 2 frontispieces, 2 maps (lacking one), 18 engraved plates, 20 vignettes. Contemporary half leather binding, raised bands, gilt spine title labels on green leather at top of spine, black lables with name of author and volume at bottom of spine (partially chipped off), leather split on one side of vol. 2 but binding still very firm, a few plates mildly foxed. Overall a solid and nice set of this account. Much on California, Alaska, Hawaiian islands, Marquesas, Tahiti, Dutch East Indies, etc.
Seller: Tinakori Books, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Price: US$1081.22 + shipping
Description: The first edition of this detailed description of Edward Belcher's voyage around the Pacific on HMS Sulphur, complete, and in the original blue cloth binding. The first edition of the work, with the sixteen page advertisement catalogue to the rear of volume one dated February 1843. With three folding maps to the front pocket of volume one. With a frontispiece and seven engraved plates to volume one. Volume two with a frontispiece and ten engraved plates. All tissue guards present. Collated complete. Written by Edward Belcher, a British naval office and explorer. Belcher performed many coastal surveys for the British Admiralty, including a surveying ship along the north and west coasts of Africa, North and South America, the South Pacific and China. in 1852, Belcher was tasked with searching for Sir John Franklin, following his disappearance whilst attempting to find the Northwest Passage. Narrative of a Voyage Round the World accounts Belcher's expedition surveying the Pacific onboard the HMS Sulphur. The voyage followed the California coast, moving North towards Alaska. He also visited a number of the Pacific Islands including Hawaii and Tonga. The work contains many plates displaying the native people of the various countries, such as Chinese soldiers and native people of New Guinea and Celebes. In need of restoration, but nonetheless a complete edition of this important work, in the original publisher's blue cloth. In the publisher's blue cloth binding. Externally worn with rear board to volume one detached but present. Rubbing to the boards. Hinges strained to volume one. Internally firmly bound. Pages generally clean with marginal age toning. Loss to final leaf of publisher's advertisements. Contemporary ink inscription and stamp to title page of volume one and stamp to volume two. The occasional minor closed tear to folding maps. Good Only
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$1450.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 2 volumes. xxxvii+[2]+387+[8 ad] pages with frontispiece, woodcuts in text and 7 steel-engraved plates; vi+[2]+474 pages with frontispiece, woodcuts in texts and 10 steel-engraved plates. Royal octavo (9¼x5½") in publisher's original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt covers decorative blind stamped. First Edition.In 1825, Edward Belcher accompanied Frederick William Beechey's expedition to the Pacific and Bering Strait as a surveyor. In 1836. he commanded a surveying ship on the north and west coasts of Africa and in the British seas. Belcher took up the work which Beechey had left unfinished on the Pacific coast of South America. He was on board the bomb vessel HMS Sulphur, which was ordered to return to England in 1839 by the Trans-Pacific route. Belcher made various observations at a number of islands which he visited, having been delayed by being dispatched to take part in the war in China in 1840. On 26 January 1841, the then Commander Belcher landed on Possession Point at the north shore Hong Kong Island and made the first British survey of Hong Kong harbor. After the war's end in 1842 he reached home and for his services was made a Knight Bachelor in the following year. He was then engaged in HMS Samarang, in surveying work in the East Indies, the Philippines, Geomun-do (Port Hamilton) and other places, until 1847. In 1852 Belcher led the last and largest Admiralty expedition to rescue Sir John Franklin. He was also to look for his former surveying officer in Hong Kong, Richard Collinson, and Robert McClure, whose ships had not been seen after entering the Bering Strait. He did a great deal of sledge exploration, rescued McClure and abandoned four of his five ships in the ice. He had five ships: Assistance (Belcher), Resolute (Henry Kellett, second mate George Nares), the steam tenders Pioneer (Sherard Osborn) and Intrepid (Leopold McClintock) and the depot ship North Star (William Pullen). Belcher and one tender were to enter Wellington Channel, where Franklin was thought to be, while Kellett was to go west to Melville Island and look for Collinson and McClure. North Star was to stay at Beechey Island as a supply base. He left the Nore in April 1850. By early winter Assistance and Pioneer were frozen in at Northumberland Sound to the north of Wellington Channel while Resolute and Intrepid were frozen in off Melville Island (Arctic)¿the first ships this far west since William Edward Parry in 1819. A great deal of exploration was done by man-hauled sledges. In April 1853 Leopold McClintock and others left the Resolute on sledges and returned 105 days later, having covered 1,400 miles and discovered Prince Patrick Island. Another party went west and discovered Robert McClure, whose ship was frozen in at Mercy Bay. Belcher went north by sledge and found a channel at the northern tip of Devon Island, hinting that Franklin might have used it to escape to Baffin Bay. When the ice broke up that summer, he pushed his ships up Wellington Channel and became trapped again. By February 1854 Belcher was becoming increasingly worried about the safety of his ships and men. In April he ordered Kellett to abandon his ships and return by sledge to North Star. Belcher abandoned his two ships in late July. Aided by two ships that showed up at Beechey Island (Phoenix and Breadalbane), the whole party returned to England. Belcher went through a court martial, which was automatic for any captain who had lost a ship. He was exonerated, but his sword was returned to him 'without observation'. He never again received an active command. Curiously Resolute broke free of the ice and drifted all the way to Davis Strait, where it was picked up by an American whaler.Condition: Some staining and wear to covers, spines a bit faded, ends chipped and worn, rear joint of Vol. I with chipping and loss; hinges repaired at endpapers, some light foxing and occasional mostly marginal damp staining within, the three folding maps which should be loose in pocke
Seller: The Book Collector, Inc. ABAA, ILAB, Fort Worth, TX, U.S.A.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Two volume set, complete with three folding maps and 19 plates, in original cloth bindings, protected in a custom slipcase. Vol. I: xxiv, 387 pages of text, followed by 16 pages of publisher's advertisement; maps housed in intact pocket with original pull-ribbon in the inside front cover. Vol. II: viii, 474 pages of text including an index. Original cloth bindings are worn, chipped and rubbed at the extremities, and heavily sunned/browned on the spines. All inner hinges have been archivally tissue reinforced. The frontispieces and a good number of the plates and maps have minor to moderate foxing, and there is minor foxing to the text. The maps are somewhat browned at some of the folds. Previous owner's engraved bookplate on the inside front cover of both volumes: Sir George Nugent (1757-1849). A custom-made slipcase was made to protect the books. Sabin 4390. Howes B318. First edition. Size: Octavo (8vo)
Seller: Kurt Gippert Bookseller (ABAA), Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Price: US$1526.43 + shipping
Description: Including details of the Naval Operations in China, from Dec. 1840, to Nov.1841. Published under the authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Two volumes. 8vo. folding maps, engraved plates with tissue guards, vignettes. Contemporary Calf, discerning matching later reback. marbled endpapers and foredges. neat small library stamp verso title and last page, occasional light foxing. Excellent Set.
Seller: HALEWOOD : ABA:ILAB : Booksellers :1867, PRESTON, United Kingdom
Price: US$1750.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. xxii [i.e. xxxviii], [2], 387; vi, [2], 324, [2], [325]-474. 19 engraved plates & 3 folding engraved maps. 20 wood-engraved text illus. later half chagrin, gilt backs (corners rubbed, Peabody Library bookplates, some spotting to maps, dampstaining to upper part of plates). First Edition. The purpose of the expedition was to explore and survey the Pacific Coast of North and South America, from Valparaiso, Chile, to Alaska. Captain F.W.Beechey was appointed commander, but was replaced early on because of illness, by Captain Belcher. Among the harbours and ports visited and surveyed along the northwest coast were Port Etches, in King William s Sound, Point Riou and Port Mulgrave, Kodiak Island, Sitka or New Archangel, in Norfolk Sound, Friendly Cove, in Nootka Sound, San Francisco, Monterey, the Columbia River, Bodega (the Russian position near San Francisco), Santa Barbara, San Pedro, San Juan, San Diego, &c. At Sitka, the officers were greeted by the Russian governor, Captain Koupreanoff. At San Francisco, they undertook a month long journey in open boats up the Sacramento River. The Sulphur also stopped at the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, Society and Tonga Islands, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. The appendix contains an important description of the botany and zoology of the voyage, including references to the vegetation of Australia and New Zealand, written by Richard Brinsley Hinds, botanist of the expedition. Cowan 15. Ferguson 3564. Hill p. 20. Howes B-318. Kroepelian 73. Lada-Mocarski 117. Sabin 4390. Strathern & Edwards 34 (17 plates only). Wickersham 6543a.
Seller: D & E LAKE LTD. (ABAC/ILAB), Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$1800.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Two volume set. Half leather over marbled paper, five raised bands, gilt lettering on red leather adhered to spine, three intact maps, illustrated with engravings throughout. A scarce set of the iconic journey around the world by Admiral Sir Edward Belcher. Head and tail of spine, as well as corners are shelf worn, marbled paper covers are mottled in places, edges are age toned, foxing to engravings specifically, maps are in excellent condition with only a few small closed tears along folds.
Seller: Chaparral Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$2700.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: London: Henry Colburn, 1843. First edition. Octavo (9 1/4" x 5 3/4"). 2 vols. With 19 engraved plates. 3 folding maps in front endpaper pocket. Bound in original blindstamped blue cloth. Rebacked with original gilt lettered spine strips laid on. 2 engravings laid in loose in Vol. 1. Extremities and hinges rubbed. Discoloration on covers and spines sunned. Ownership manuscript "The Dean of Ossory," likely Charles Vignoles, who served from 1843-1847. Edward Belcher (1799-1877) was a British naval officer, hydrographer and explorer, who took over this expedition from Captain Frederick William Beechey, who had fallen ill. Belcher commanded the ship Sulphur in exploration and survey of the Pacific coast of North and South America, from Valapraiso, Chile to Alaska. They surveyed various harbors along the coast of California and northwest to Alaska, and spent a month's journey in open boats up the Sacramento River from San Francisco. Other surveys included the Hawaiian Islands, Marquessas, Society Islands, Tonga Islands, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands and Sumatra.
Seller: Arader Galleries - AraderNYC, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$2790.64 + shipping
Description: Two volumes, octavo, xxxviii, (1, fly-title), 387, 16 (ads); vi, (1, ills.) 474pp. With two folding maps and a larger world chart in pocket of the binding, as issued; frontispiece in each volume and 17 other engraved plates, and 20 engraved vignettes in the text; 16 pp. publisher's advertisements at end of the first volume. Original blue-green cloth, gilt-lettered backstrips. First edition of Captain Sir Edward Belcher's narrative of the world voyage of the Sulphur, during the years 1836-1842, and 'an important surveying voyage to the Pacific' (Forbes). Belcher took command of the ship after Captain Beechey fell ill in Valparaiso. The expedition had been sent out to survey the Pacific coast of North and South America and the Pacific basin. 'The various harbours along the coast of California and northwest to Alaska were surveyed, and a month's journey in open boats was made up the Sacramento River from San Francisco Bay. The Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, the Society Islands, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, etc., were visited' (Hill). The book is also an important text for the First Opium War as after visiting the several islands groups in the Pacific, Belcher arrived at Singapore in 1840, and was ordered back to China following the start of the war, and in the years that followed he was engaged in operations in the Canton River. . Provenance: Early ink signature of J. Hannam in both vols; fragments of a library lending label. Binding worn at head and foot, spines faded, hinges cracked but sound,
Seller: Hordern House Rare Books, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: Two volumes. xxii [i.e. xxxviii],[2],387,16 [advertisements dated February 1843] pp. plus eight plates (including frontispiece); vi,[2],474pp. plus eleven plates (including frontispiece). Three folding maps in front pocket of first volume. Original blue embossed cloth, spines gilt. Spines sunned, minor edge wear, corners bumped. Bookplate on front pastedown of both volumes. Mild occasional foxing. Very good. A rare and important account of a successful Pacific surveying expedition, wonderfully illustrated. Belcher boarded the SULPHUR at Panama, taking over from Capt. Henry Kellett who had relieved Capt. Frederick Beechey after he fell ill. Belcher remained in command for the balance of the expedition. The purpose of the voyage was to survey and explore the Pacific basin and the Pacific coast of North and South America. The party surveyed harbors along the California coast and northwest to Alaska, and travelled up the Sacramento River from San Francisco Bay for a month in open boats. They also visited various Pacific islands, including Hawaii. The vegetation of Australia is examined in an appendix, as is that of Africa and other countries. Many of the plates depict natives encountered, and the large map shows the course of the ship around the world. "The Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, the Society Islands, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, etc. were visited. Noteworthy is the essay by naturalist Richard Brinsley Hinds, 'The regions of vegetations; being an analysis of the distribution of vegetable forms over the surface of the globe in connexion with climate and physical agents.' Also included are various appendices relating to Nicaragua.Belcher had earlier sailed with Beechey on the BLOSSOM as a surveyor" - Hill. HOWES B318, "aa." LADA-MOCARSKI 117. FERGUSON 3564. HILL 102. JUDD, p.28.
Seller: William Reese Company - Americana, New Haven, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. Two octavo volumes (9 1/4 x 5 13/16 inches; 235 x 150 mm). xxii [i.e. xxxviii], [2], 387, [1, blank], [16, ads]; vi, [2], 324, [2], 325-474 pp. Complete with all nineteen engraved plates, hand-colored with gum arabic. Each color plate with a protective tissue guard. Also with numerous black and white vignette and three folding maps in the rear pocket of volume I. Publisher's blue-green blind-stamped cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Uncut. Spines a bit sunned. Some glue residue along edges of pastedowns. Maps each with an old perforated library stamp, mostly in the margins, and a couple of fold line tears, but generally very good. No other library markings in books. Previous owner's bookplate on front pastedown of each volume. Inner hinges a bit cracked. An excellent copy of this classic of naval exploration. The purpose of this expedition was to explore and survey the Pacific Coast of North and South America, from Valapraiso, Chile to Alaska. Among the harbors and ports visited and surveyed were Port Etches, in King William's Sound, Point Riou and Port Mulgrave, Kodiak Island, Sitka, San Francisco, Monterey, the Columbia River, Bodega (the Russian possession near San Francisco), Santa Barbara, San Pedro, San Juan and San Diego. At Sitka , the officers were greeted by the Russian governor, Captain Koupreanoff. At San Francisco, they took a month long journey in open boats up the Sacramento River. Their ship, the Sulphur, also stopped at the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquessas, Society and Tonga Islands, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Sumatra and Malacca. When they reached Singapore in 1840, Belcher was sent to China, where war had broken out, and was there actively involved in military campaigns on the Canton River. Cordier, Sinica, 2370. Cowan, p.15. Ferguson, Australia, 3564. Hill p. 20. Howes B318. Lada-Mocarski 117. Sabin 4390. HBS 64912. $3,000.
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$3200.00 + shipping
Description: Two volumes, 8vo, xxxvii, 387; vi, 474 pp., eight engraved plates in Vol. I, 12 plates in Vol. II. 3 folding maps. Original blue blind-stamped cloth, spine gilt. Spines faded, but a very good copy with a few small closed tears to the large folding map, of a book difficult to obtain in original state. This appears to be a later issue binding, with the maps bound in, instead of in a cover pocket; the spine stamping does not carry the publisher's name as we have noted on other copies, and there are no half-titles and no advertisements.There's an 1848 date pencilled on the front endpaper. Belcher captained this voyage of exploration and survey along the Pacific coasts of North and South America. Chapters 5 through 7 detail the Sulphur's part in the attacks on China during the First Opium War. Forbes 1377 notes the considerable significant Hawaiian content including "one of the most attractive of all nineteenth-century views of Honolulu". Hill 102.
Seller: Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books (ABAA), CHESTER, CT, U.S.A.