Beschreibung:

KOTZEBUE, Otto von (1787-1846). Entdeckungs-Reise in die Süd-See und nach der Berings-Strasse zur Erforschung einer nordöstlichen Durchfahrt : unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817, und 1818 . Weimar: Gebrudern Hoffmann, 1821. The first edition of Kotzebue’s “celebrated narrative important for its descriptions of Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Micronesia” (Forbes), untrimmed and partially unopened . Commanded by Kotzebue and sponsored by Count Romanzoff, the expedition set sail for Brazil on the Rurik , stopping at Rio de Janeiro, then went by way of Cape Horn to Chile, Tahiti, Pitcairn, and Radack, to Kamtchatka. The return was made via New Archangel, California, Hawaii, Marianas, Philippines, and St. Helena. Excellent charts were completed of the North Pacific coasts of Asia and America, the Aleutians, Pribilofs, St. Lawrence Island, and the Bering Strait where Kotzebue Sound was discovered. Arctic Bib. 9189; Forbes 525; Hill 943; Howes K-258; Lada-Mocarski 80; Sabin 38284; Streeter sale 3511. Three volumes bound together, quarto (275 x 215mm). 20 plates, 19 handcolored on J. Whatman Turkey Mill paper with watermarks dated 1819, 4 folding; 6 maps, 5 folding (margins of volume 1 title page reinforced, with repaired tears to vol. 2 p. 11 and second to last folding map at rear). Modern calf blindtooled in a period style. Provenance : Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Braunschweig (stamp) – Helen R. Kahn, Inc.