[Rarebooks] fa: 1789 CHINA, RUSSIA & ALASKA in Trusler's HABITABLE WORLD - 20 Maps & Plates

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, auction ending Sunday, March 8. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/jw3ydoq

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.



John Trusler (ed.): The Habitable World Described, or The Present State of the People in all Parts of the Globe, from North to South; Shewing the Situation, Extent, Climate, Productions, Animals, &c. of the different Kingdoms and States; including all the new Discoveries: Together with the Genius, Manners, Customs, Trade, Religion, Forms of Government, &c. of the Inhabitants… With a great Variety of Maps and Copper-Plates, engraved in a capital Stile, the Subjects of which are mostly new, and such as have never yet been given in any English work… Vol. V [and] VI. London: Printed for the Author, at the Library-Press, 1789. Two volumes in one; thick 8vo in half calf and marbled boards, gilt-lettered morocco spine labels; 352, 354 pp; with an extra engraved title-page bound in (for vol. I, dated 1788), plus 17 engraved plates and 3 folding maps.

Two volumes (bound in one) of Trusler's monumental collection of travels and exploration which was published over the course of ten years and eventually ran to twenty volumes. Complete in itself. The largest section (359 pp.) is devoted to a DESCRIPTION OF CHINA and includes a folding Map of the Empire of China and a folding Plan of the City of Pekin, the Metropolis of China. Plates include: A Chinese Naval Engagement; a View of Wampoo; Foreigners' Quarters in the suburbs of Canton; a Chinese Sepulchre; Chinese Army on the March; etc.

There is also a significant section on RUSSIA: A Description of Kamtschatka; An Account of the Tungusians; The Koraiks and Tschoutktsches; Little Russia (Moscow, etc.); the Eastern Islands (Aleutians, etc.); with a folding map Comprehending Behrings Straits [the Bering Strait] and the adjoining Coasts of Asia & America and a plate depicting the Inside of a House at Oonalashka (Unalaska). Also included is Some Account of the NORTH-WESTERN COASTS OF AMERICA, from Captain Cook, who visited those places in the Summer of 1778, with plates showing Snug Corner Cove (Prince William Sound) and the Inhabitants of Nootka Sound.

Light bumping to the corners, modest wear to the boards and spine, a little rubbing to the joints; mild toning to some of the plates and offsetting to the folding maps; occasional light scattered foxing to the leaves; one text leaf coming loose at the gutter but still secure; otherwise the contents are quite clean and sound, securely bound.