"EVIDENCE OF THE POTENTIAL STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE NORTHWEST REGION OF NORTH AMERICA": FIRST ENGLISH EDITION OF KOTZEBUE'S SECOND VOYAGE TO THE PACIFIC, 1830

KOTZEBUE, Otto von. A New Voyage Round the World, in the Years 1823, 24, 25, and 26. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830. Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter plum morocco gilt, raised bands, black morocco spine labels, marbled boards and endpapers. $4500.

First edition in English of the chronicle of Kotzebue's second voyage to the Pacific, providing detailed information on the northwest coast of North America, with engraved frontispiece in each volume and three maps (two folding). A handsome copy of this scarce narrative in contemporary morocco and marbled boards.

Kotzebue's expedition involved transporting Russian reinforcements to Kamchatka, "but exploration was also intended, and a number of scientists were on board, including the physicist H.F.E. Leny and the physician and naturalist Johann F. Eschscholtz. The expedition sailed to Brazil, then went by way of Cape Horn to Chile, Tahiti, Pitcairn Island, Tonga, Navigator's Islands, Radack, and thence to Kamchatka. The voyage also visited California, with its new Russian settlement; the Marianas; and the Philippines. with the completion of Kotzebue's explorations, the main features of the northwest coastline of America were fairly well established… Kotzebue's narrative provided reliable evidence of the potential strategic and economic value of the Northwest region of North America, as well as indicating a growing Russian presence in this area, which alarmed some Englishmen when his account was published in London" (Hill 946, 947). First published in Russian in 1828. Hill 947. Sabin 38286. Howes K259. Engraved armorial bookplate. Owner ink inscription, blindstamp to title page of Volume I. Occasional annotations to text and charts.

Near-fine and desirable in handsome contemporary morocco and marbled boards.