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- Voyages to the South Seas
Voyages to the South Seas, Indian and Pacific Oceans, China Sea, North-west Coast, Feejee Island, South Shetlands… With an Account of the New Discoveries Made in the Southern Hemisphere Between the Years 1830-1837.
Fanning, Edmund.
William H. Vermilye, ( 1838), New York
19 cm. xii, 324 pp. b/w lithograph frontispiece.
Price: $400
Third edition of an important book that has become quite scarce. Captain Fanning of Stonington, Connecticut, sailed for the South Seas in 1792, on a voyage for sealskins. During the next twenty-five years made voyages to the Pacific and around the world… Included is an account of the first American naval exploring expedition to the southern hemisphere, 1829-30, sponsored by the U.S. government. – Hill 581, referring to the 1833 first edition of “Voyages Round the World…” Ferguson, 1643, calling it A very interesting work…. it was his petition to Congress and largely his own personal efforts that finally led to… the exploring expedition that sailed under the command of… Charles Wilkes. See also Spence 454. However, none of these sources note that this edition contains added material on Fannings role in forming the Expedition, and his roster of ships and officers comprising it. At this stage Wilkes has still not made an appearance. Fanning believed the Expedition would be led by Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, and only adds a note in the appendix – the final paragraph in the book – to the effect that the Expedition will be led by Wilkes. Bound in publisher’s green cloth with gold spine lettering, which has faded. With inscription by Fanning descendant Sidney Bradford on front free endpaper. Scattered light foxing water stain at top of first few pages, but good condition overall.
