xxi, [3], 388 pp. With 8 copper-engraved maps, hand-colored (3 folding); 3 copper-engraved plates of artifacts, etc.; 2 hand-colored aquatint plates; stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait. (4to) 26.7x20.8 cm. (10½x8¼"), modern full calf, spine ruled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces. First Edition in English.
Scarce account of this important Russian circumnavigation, with significant details on early Alaska. Hill notes the work as "Originally published in Russian in St. Petersburg, 1812... Lisiankskii, deputy commander of Kruzenshtern's expedition around the world, received word of the massacre at Sitka upon reaching Kodiak in 1804. The Kolosh Indians had attached the settlement of the Russian-American Company and slaughtered almost the entire garrison. Lisianskii laid siege to the Kolosh stronghold and ultimately drove the Indians into the back country. Lisianskii, commanding the Neva, followed a different route from Kuzenshtern, in the Nadezhda, the two ships separating at the Hawaiian Islands. He called at Easter Island and the Marquesas, the Hawaiian Islands, the Islands of Kodiak and Unalaska, the Bay of Kenai, and Sitka Sound." Lada-Mocarski describes it as "a very important and rare work on the history of Alaska in general and Sitka in particular." Forbes notes that "The Neva arrived at Hawaii June 8 and departed June 20, 1804, and Lisianskii's account is brief but includes visits to Kealakekua Bay and to Waimea, Kauai." In addition to the important text, the illustrations are significant, with two superb hand-colored aquatint plates from drawings by the author, "Harbour of St. Paul in the Island of Cadiack" with a three-masted ship and several kayaks in the bay before the settlement, and "Harbour of New Archangel in Sitca or Norfolk Sound," three ships in the bay with fort on opposite shore. The maps include a folding chart of the world as well as detailed charts of the coastlines and islands off Alaska. Forbes 443; Graff 2506; Hill Pacific Voyages 1026; Howes L372; Lada-Mocarski 68; Streeter 3507; Wickersham 6261.
Condition:
Formerly in the Boston Public Library, with small, old circular rubberstamp to title-page, early ink numbers to title and back of frontispiece. Occasional foxing, offset from the maps and plates; repair to p.144 not affecting text; very good condition, in fine modern binding.