Beschreibung:

DANA, RICHARD HENRY, Jr. ]. Two Years Before the Mast. A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea, New York: Harper 1840. 12mo, original coarse dark brown cloth, wear at ends of spine and corners, sides slightly soiled, front free endpaper lacking, some light foxing, half morocco slipcase . FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, BAL's Binding A (but only noting black cloth). The author's first book. "Our only trustworthy account [of California] before the 1849 gold rush"--Grolier/ American 46; "[Dana's] book has become a classic account of the life and adventures of an ordinary seaman in the American merchant service. It concerns his experiences in California in 1835-36, Juan Fernandez Island, Cape Horn, etc., and is invaluable for its descriptions of California ranching and social life in Mexican times, including San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Monterey"--Hill, pp. 78-79; BAL 4434; Cowan (I), p. 62; Cowan (II), p. 156; Graff 998; Howes D 49; Zamorano 80, no. 26. Provenance : George Barr McCutcheon, bookplate.