Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research with a scientific appendix on the marine animals of the Panamic Faunal Province

STEINBECK the novelist and RICKETTS the biologist joined forces in a unique "fishing trip." This is the personal story of their expedition; included is a 300-page illustrated section recording their scientific findings.
Viking Press, 1941. 1st Edition. Hardcover. x + 598 pp.8vo. Very good in a very good+ dust jacket, Front flap price cut, small piece missing and some closed tears and wear on the jacket. Orange top textblock edge. "First published in December 1941" on copyright page.
This "leisurely journal of travel and research" is the result of a trip to the Gulf of California also known as the Sea of Cortez, by Ricketts, famed marine biologist, and his best friend, novelist John Steinbeck, as well as a small crew aboard the Western Flyer, a purse seiner. Ricketts kept a journal of this trip which Steinbeck used to write the narrative. Since this was a collaborative effort Steinbeck also worked as diligently as Ricketts on the scientific data collection. The result is "an invitation to see the world anew from a fresh vantage point and perhaps with a broader and more understanding spirit." The book includes a 300-page scientific appendix and is beautifully illustrated with 32 pages of b&w photos and 15 full colour reproductions of marine fauna, with map endpapers of the Gulf of California.