The U. S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere during the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52

Washington DC: Washington: House of Representatives, 1855. First edition. Hardcover. Contemporary quarter calf spine, black leather spine labels printed in gilt and marbled boards. Good, Very good. xiii, 556 & ix, 300 pages. 30 x 23.5 cm. Account of an American expedition to Chile, sponsored by the American government. The expedition was led by Lieut James Melville Gilliss between 1849 and 1852 and it went overland to Panama City, then across the South Pacific to Callao, Valparaiso, and Santiago. One colored lithographic plate by J. M. Stanley, one fold-out colored lithographic panorama 177 x 29 cm, 7 uncolored lithographic maps, one uncolored lithographic by J. Queen, 3 uncolored lithographic plates, and text figs. Subjects covered include Indian antiquities (Chile & Peru), Birds, Reptiles, Plants, Fossils and Mammals. Rubbing to extremities and corners, bookplate of H.C. Lewis, and ink signature front free endpapers of both volumes of the Hon. Asa Parker dated Aug. 15th 1856. Paper spine labels. Portion of panorama provided.