MEARES, JOHN. Voyages made in the years 1788 and 1789, from China to the North West Coast of America. To which are prefixed, an Introductory Narrative of a Voyage performed in 1786, from Bengal, in the Ship Nootka; observations on the probable existe...

MEARES, JOHN. Voyages made in the years 1788 and 1789, from China to the North West Coast of America. To which are prefixed, an Introductory Narrative of a Voyage performed in 1786, from Bengal, in the Ship Nootka; observations on the probable existence of a North West Passage; and some account of the trade between the North West Coast of America and China. London: Logographic Press for J. Walter 1790. 4to, contemporary tree calf gilt, rebacked, upper cover detached, backstrip defective, a slight fold tear in two of the folding maps, Ii2 with long repaired tear, some plates spotted. FIRST EDITION, stipple engraved portrait frontispiece of Meares after Beechey, 10 engraved charts, three of them folding, and 17 plates by T. Stothard, T. Foot, J. Wells, R. Pollard and other after Meares and other artists, including the optional plate of the Philippines at p. 17, 13 of the plates uncolored aquatints. "Pioneer English voyage to this coast, supplying the chief basis to British claims to Oregon"--Howes M469; Lande 1346 ("a splendid account of the Indian nations"); Sabin 47260.