Reise nach den nördlichen Gegenden vom russischen Asien und America unter dem Commodor Joseph Billings in den Jahren 1785 bis 1794.

BILLINGS, Joseph (ca. 1758-1806); SAUER, Martin (fl. 1785-1806).

Verlag: Weimar: im Beitrage des Landes-Industrie Comptoirs, 1803., 1803

Beschreibung

Remainder of title: Aus Original-Papieren verfasst von Martin Sauer, Secretär der Expedition. Aus dem Englischen ubersetzt und mit Anmerkungen versehen von M.C. Sprengel. Mit einer Karte. Two volumes in one, 8vo (193 x 124 mm.): [2], xiv, [6], 296 pages; xiv, 188, [2] pages, 2 folding maps, one with handcolored routes. Bound in cotemporary half-calf over marbled boards (spine label lacking). PROVENANCE: from the library of Martin L. Greene, his sale of Russian America and polar exploration works at Christie s New York, 7 Dec. 2017, lot 155. AN EARLY TRANSLATION OF SAUER S ACCOUNT OF THE BILLINGS EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE. According to Howes, this is the second German edition, both volumes of which appeared as part of the series, Bibliothek der neuesten und wichtigsten Reisebeschreibungen zur Erweiterung der Erdkunde, edited by M.C. Sprengel. In 1785, the Russian government of Catherine the Great commissioned a new expedition in search for the Northeast Passage, led by English officer Joseph Billings, who had previously sailed with Captain Cook, with the Russian officer Gavril Sarychev as his deputy, and with Carl Heinrich Merck as the expedition s naturalist. The Billings expedition operated until 1795, and though frequently considered a failure, it nevertheless had a substantial record of achievement. Accurate maps were made of the Chukchi Peninsula in Eastern Siberia, the west coast of Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands. Members of the expedition landed on Kodiak Island and made an examination of the islands and mainlands of Prince William Sound. Additionally, the expedition compiled a census of the native population of the Aleutian Islands and reported to the crown stories of abuse by the Russian fur traders. After the expedition, Billings remained with the Imperial Russian Navy, before retiring in 1797 and settling in Moscow. REFERENCES: Howes S-117; Lada-Mocarski 58; Tourville 3976; Wickersham 6137. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 72JFP073

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Reise nach den nördlichen Gegenden vom ...

Verlag: Weimar: im Beitrage des Landes-Industrie Comptoirs, 1803.

Erscheinungsdatum: 1803

Einband: Half-Leather

Zustand: Very Good

Art des Buches: Book