2 volumes. [iii]-xii, lxxii, 363; [4], 332, [62], [1] pp. With 8 (of 10) folding engraved maps & 4 copper plates, 2 folding. 21.6x13 cm (8½x5¼"), period tree calf, gilt-stamped spines, morocco spine labels.
Octavo edition of Meares' Voyages, published one year after the quarto first edition. Meares' account of his two fur-trading voyages to the Northwest Coast was to exert profound influence on sovereignty of the region; in the words of David Forbes, the book was "central to British claims to the Northwest Territory and led to the convention by which Spain's claim was finally disallowed." This copy with two fewer maps that the correct complement of ten (some bibliographers call for only nine in the octavo edition), however it seems to be as issued - evidently, many copies were issued without a full complement of maps and plates. Not present are the large folding maps of the Pacific Ocean and Cook's Map of the North Pacific. This octavo edition appears to be scarcer than the quarto edition.
Further Notes from the Files of Warren Heckrotte
Provenance: PBA, 12/19/96
The maps in this copy are: 1) Sketch of Friendly Cove in Nootka sound. 2)A Sketch of Port Cox. 3) A Plan of Port Effingham. 4) A View of Otter Sound. 5) A Plan of Sea Otter Harbour and St. Patrick's Bay. 6) A Sketch of Port Meares. 7) A Sketch of Raft Cove. 8) A Chart of the Interior Part of North America Demonstrating the very great probability of an Inland Navigation from Hudsons Bay to the West Coast.
References: Howes M 469, calls for 13 maps and plates. Strathern, 364 (i), calls for 9 folding maps.National Maritime Museum, Vol.I, 622, notes 3 plates and 8 maps.Forbes, Hawaii, no. 212, calls for 4 maps in Vol. I and 6 maps in Vol. II, (Bauman copy in Cat of 10/01 noted in Price Records has 10 maps.)
Condition:
Rubbing to spine, joints & edges; tape repair to one page, Vol. I bound without the half-title, else very good.