Voyages & Discoveries in the South Seas 1792-1832

8vo [24.5 x 16 cm]; xvi, [ii], 335 pp, frontis, 31 plates, map endpapers, index. original blue cloth, gilt spine title lettering, lightly foxed on few margins, slightly rubbed at lower edge, but a near fine, solid copy. A picture of this book is available upon request by email. Spence 456. Hill p. 101, describing the first edition of 1833, which had just 5 plates: 'Captain Fanning of Stonington, Connecticut, sailed for the South Seas in 1792, on a voyage for sealskins, and during the next 25 years made voyages to the Pacific and around the world, visiting Australia, the desolate lands of South Georgia, and the islanders of Fiji, Tonga and the Marquesas. He discovered several islands, including one that still bears his name, lying 1200 miles south of Honolulu. Included is an account of the first American naval exploring expedition to the southern hemisphere, 1829-30, sponsored by the U. S. government and commanded by Benjamin Pendleton.' Fanning island figured prominently in a famous murder trial, written up by lawyer Vincent Bugliosi, 'And the Sea Will Tell'. See Howes F28 for first edition. 'One of the most interesting of all the early voyages made by Americans that have been published and that it deserves a wide acquaintance among those who would learn of the adventurers' courage that led the Yankee sailor to set his course in every sea' (prospectus).