M. Perry (Commodore) - Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China Seas and Japan, performed in the - 1856

Published in three volumes with 136 mostly tinted lithographed plates of which 18 nicely hand-coloured, depicting birds, fishes and shells, 16 large folded charts, 352 wood-engraved solar and star maps. Near uniform original embossed cloth. This is the "House of Representatives issue" in three volumes. Commodore Perry was appointed commander of a naval expedition to be sent to Japan to induce their government to establish diplomatic ties with the United States; only the Dutch and the Chinese had the exclusive rights until then. The Japanese were eventualy forced to accept a treaty. The most important result was that the visit resulted to the collapse of the feudal regime and to the modernization of Japan. Although it has more plates than usually stated, it does not include the surpressed nude bathers plate. It contains however the fine six handcoloured lithographed plates of birds by Cassin, ten of fish and two of shells and the two brightly coloured reproduced Japanese wood-engravings (one with a large repaired tear a few a little age-toned). The front board of volume I has the embossed view on mount Fuji upright, the other two volumes have the same view 90 degrees turned, parallel to the front edge. Lacks, as usual, the suppressed nude bathing plate, as well as the Chinese temple in Macao plate. One plate with a large repaired tear and small piece of margin missing (no loss of image or text), the opposing page also with a small repair at the same height. One leaf in photostat as it was lacking, another one with a tape repair to the bottom edge (not affecting the text). Inscribed on last blank (upside down): To H. Graham, Esq. with the compliments of his friend Beale. Rebacked. Most large folding charts repaired at edges or in folds with some slight loss of numbers or lines. Endpapers and paste-downs renewed, together with the pouch for the maps. The paper of the maps is very thin and sometimes repaired with Japanese acid-free tape at the back (some also to the front), many with some degree of browning in the folds. These maps must be handled with care. Reference: Cordier, Bibl. Japonica p. 514.