Account Of A Voyage Of Discovery To The North-East Of Siberia, The Frozen Ocean, And The North-East Sea

London: Printed For Richard Phillips By J.G.Barnard, 1806-07. First Edition of the English Translation, abridged from the original Russian of 1802. “One of the fundamental and…early books on the Aleutian Islands, and particularly on Unalashka.” (Lada-Mocarski) Sarytschev’s journal gives an account of the first major exploring expedition sent out by the Russians to the Frozen Sea and the North Pacific after Bering’s second expedition of 1741. It was the last of the major Russian surveys of the eastern coast of Siberia and required nine years to accomplish (1785-94). During that time the expedition visited the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Kodiak, Montague Island and Prince William Sound. Alaska and the Aleutian Islands were here carefully charted for the first time. Joseph Billings, who has previously accompanied Cook on his last fatal voyage and subsequently entered the Russian navy, was selectec by Catherine II to command the expedition. Sarytschev served as surveyor on the voyage. Another account was written by Martin Sauer, who acted as historian and secretary on the expedition. Bell S115. Hill 1527. Howes S-115. Sabin 77126. Streeter VI 3502. Wickerhsam 6130. cfLada-Mocarski 57. 2 Volumes in 1. 8vo. pp. iv, [5]-70; 80. [1]index. 3 folding engraved plates & 2 hand-coloured aquatint costume plates. modern half morocco (lower outer corner of c2 in Vol I torn away with loss of several words on 4 lines on recto & 5 lines of footnote on verso)