Voyages Round the World; by FANNING, Edmund - 1833: with selected sketches of Voyages to the South Seas, North and South Pacific Oceans, China, etc., performed under the command and agency of the author. Also, information relating to important late discoveries; between the years 1792 and 1832, together wit

New York: Collins & Hannay,, 1833. With four lithographic plates Octavo. Original blue cloth-backed brown boards, titles to printed paper label to spine. Housed in a custom green cloth slipcase. Lithograph frontispiece and 3 further lithographic plates, 2 of which are folding. Extensive, although partially erased, contemporary notes to endpapers consisting of: packing list, score tabulation, letter formation practice, and two separate lists of women's names. Front free endpaper renewed. Spine faded, wear and scuffs to soiled boards, foxing to contents, nevertheless a very good copy indeed of this fragile publication. First edition of this collection of narrative voyages. Fanning (1769-1841) was predominantly a fur trader, exchanging seal skins in China for goods which he sold on in New York. As master of the Betsey from 1797 to 1798 he discovered three South Pacific Island: Fanning, Washington, and Palmyra, which are collectively known as the Fanning Islands. "During the next 25 years he either captained or directed over 70 voyages in the Pacific and around the globe, personally visiting China, Australia, Fiji, and the Marquesas" (Forbes). In 1829 he was instrumental in sending out the first American naval exploring expedition, and was greatly responsible for the authorisation of the Wilkes Expedition of 1838 to 1842. Ferguson 1643; Forbes 839; Hill 581; Howes F27; Rosove 119.A1; Sabin 23780.