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WILKES, CHARLES. 1798-1877. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: 1849 [TEXT] & Lea & Blanchard, 1845 [ATLAS]. image 1
WILKES, CHARLES. 1798-1877. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: 1849 [TEXT] & Lea & Blanchard, 1845 [ATLAS]. image 2
Exploration and Travel Literature, Various Owners
Lot 1043¤

WILKES, CHARLES. 1798-1877.
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: 1849 [TEXT] & Lea & Blanchard, 1845 [ATLAS].

13 – 23 June 2023, 12:00 EDT
Online, New York

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WILKES, CHARLES. 1798-1877.

Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: 1849 [TEXT] & Lea & Blanchard, 1845 [ATLAS]. 5 volumes, plus atlas. 8vo (249 x 159 mm). Text: 11 engraved folding maps, 64 engraved plates, and numerous woodcut vignette and illustrations in text; Atlas: 5 large engraved folding maps (1 colored). Uniform half-blue calf over marbled boards, cornered in calf, gilt, minor wear, particularly to joints.

EARLY PRINTING WITH ATLAS. The Expedition represents "the first governmental sponsorship of scientific endeavor and was instrumental in the nation's westward expansion. Specimens gathered by expedition scientists became the foundation collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Significant American contributions in the fields of geology, botany, conchology, anthropology, and linguistics came from the scientific work of the expedition. Wilkes's evaluations of his landfalls influenced later U.S. positions in those areas" (Dictionary of American Biography). Wilkes also made immensely important charts of the American Northwest, Hawaii, Fiji, the Philippines and more. He was the first to announce the existence of an Antarctic continent. Editions of the text printed after 1845 were not issued with the Atlas, supplied here from the 1845 edition. Forbes 1573; Haskell 2-A and 18 (atlas); Hill 1866; Howes W414; Sabin 103994.

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