Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Quarto, pp. [8], 280, [8], with 7 engraved maps and plates (4 folding). Contemporary calf boards with new, complementary calf spine in six compartments. Some edgewear to boards; minor foxing to endpapers; text and plates exceptionally clean and bright. Bookplate of Sir Joseph Copley on front pastedown. An abridged translation of the Russian edition of 1755, which offered "The first reliable descriptions of Kamchatka, based on the observations of the author and his companions during the Russian expedition to the far north, 1734-43, a part of Bering's Great Northern Expedition" (Arctic Bib. 9264, 9265). It describes the customs, morals, religion, and languages of the inhabitants of the Kamchatkan peninsula. In addition, the the author had access to the notes made by pioneering German botanist George Steller during his travels to North America with Bering's expedition, and the second part of the narrative includes much on the natural history of the region. Steller's observations "are an important part of this work and constitute one of the earliest accounts of Alaska and the Aleutian islands" (Hill 948).
Seller: Walkabout Books, ABAA, Curtis, WA, U.S.A.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Description: Quarto (27 cm); [8], vii, [8]-280, [8] pages, [8] leaves of plates (some folded) : illustrations, maps. Bound in full speckled calf outlined in gilt; red title label titled in gilt; spine in six compartments defined in gilt. Fore-edge stained red, faded. Joints and hinges reinforced, corner and edges renewed. Old commercial marks in pencil on front pastedown, along with old printed catalog entry. Old tears at corners of folding maps admirably repaired. Occasional paper blemishes; closed tear at S2; light even toning throughout. A very good copy! References: Arctic Bib. 9264; Sabin 38301; Tourville 2532; Howes K-265. The first English edition of Krasheninnikovs 1755 scientific description of Kamchatka, largely based on the notes of Georg Steller. Krasheninnikov abandoned the Great Northern Expedition to avoid becoming Stellers assistant, but was able to make use of his notes for this first scientific account of Berings expedition to Alaska. Steller survived the shipwreck and scurvy that killed Bering and most of the crew, and continued to explore and document Kamchatka for several years, giving his name to a variety of newly discovered Arctic fauna and describing the native people of the region.
Seller: Rodger Friedman Rare Book Studio, ABAA, Tuxedo, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$7000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 4to. pp. 4 p.l. (incl. errata), vii, 280, [8]index. 2 folding engraved maps by Thomas Jefferys & 5 engraved plates (containing 7 views; 2 folding). contemporary marbled calf, rebacked & recornered (minor worming to lower blank margin of title & frontis. map & to front flyleaf). First Edition of the abridged English Translation by James Grieve, of one of the earliest printed narratives about Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, and the first scientific account of Kamchatka. The author, a student at the Russian Academy of Sciences, was sent to join Bering's second expedition as an assistant to G.W.Steller. Much of his narrative is based on Steller's notes. Originally published in Russian in 1755, the work discusses in great detail natural history, the manners, customs and religion of the Kamchatkans, the power and influence of the shamans, and also compares the dialects of the Kamchatkans, Korsars and Kirile Islanders. "The Russian Krasheninnikov started out across Siberia with Gerhard Friedrich Mueller and Johann Georg Gmelin, and then made his own way to Kamchatka. When Georg Wilhelm Steller arrived in Kamchatka to supervise his work, Krasheninnikov left in order to avoid becoming Steller's assistant, and returned to St. Petersburg. Krasheninnikov nonetheless was able to make use of Steller's notes in the preparation of his own narrative, and the inclusion of Steller's observations on America, made during his travels with Bering's second voyage, are an important part of this work, and constitute one of the earliest accounts of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Steller's account was not published until 1793.This is the first scientific account of those regions." (Hill) Arctic Bib. 9264. Bell K102. Cox I 351. Hill 948. Howes K-265. Lada-Mocarski 12n. Sabin 38301.
Seller: D & E LAKE LTD. (ABAC/ILAB), Toronto, ON, Canada