Kaaterskill Books

Rare Subscriber's Copy of the Pacific Voyage of Otto Von Kotzebue

Kotzebue, Otto von.

Entdeckungs-Reise in die Süd-See und nach der Berings-Strasse zur Erforschung einer nordöstlichen Durchfahrt: unternommen in den Jahren 1815, 1816, 1817 und 1818 auf Kosten Sr. Erlaucht des Herrn Reichs-Kanzlers Grafen Rumanzoff auf dem Schiffe Rurick unter dem Befehle des Lieutenants der Russisch-Kaiserlichen Marine, Otto von Kotzebue [Three Volumes in One].

Weimar: Verlegt von dem Gebr. Hoffmann, 1821. [6], xviii, [4], 91, [6], 96-168; 176; 240, [1] pp. Illus. with 20 copper-engraved, aquatint plates (19 boldly colored on thick wove paper, 4 are double-page, one with tissue guard), 6 copper-engraved maps (5 folding), and 2 folding tables. 4to. Contemporary three quarter calf over marbled boards, titled in gilt. First edition. A very good copy, rebacked to style, boards worn, small dimple at fore edge,minor foxing, one inner margin offset, Sabin 38284. Cowan 1933, page 334. Hill 943. Arctic Bibliography 9189. Borba de Moraes I: 438. Forbes 1:525. Howes K258 ("b"). Lada-Mocarski 80. Streeter sale VI: 3511. Zamorano Eighty 48. Item #44384

The Von Schrickell copy, listed on the subscriber's list as one of 88 copies of Examplare 3. Most likely a variant as page thickness measures 5.25 cm rather than 7 cm as called for by Forbes. All but one image highly and brightly colored. Subscriber list inserted after the preliminaries in Vol. 1 as in the Peabody-Essex copy.

"This second Russian expedition into the Pacific for scientific exploration, sponsored by Count Romanzoff, was commanded by Lieutenant Kotzebue, and also included the famous artist Ludovik Choris. Kotzebue, second son of the famous German dramatist August von Kotzebue, had earlier sailed with Captain Kruzenshtern in the first Russian circumnavigation, 1803-06. Leaving Kronstadt in 1815, the Rurlk rounded Cape Horn and visited Chile, Easter Island, and the Marshall Islands. Kotzebue explored the North American coast and Hawaii and searched unsuccessfully for a passage to the Arctic Ocean. The description of the northwest coast of America is a most important contribution. The second volume contains a description of California and the earliest scientific account of the Golden Poppy, California’s state flower. In California Kotzebue also picked up Vassili Petrovich Tarakanov, a Russian hunter who had been captured by the Californians. Kotzebue’s account of his ship's visit to San Francisco Bay in October of 1816 Is accompanied by six plates. The abridged narrative of the naturalist Adelbert von Chamisso in the third volume is important for his descriptions and remarks on the climate, flora, fauna, and peoples of California and the northwest coast of America." Hill p. 333.

“A celebrated narrative important for its descriptions of Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Micronesia.... The narrative is one of the significant early accounts of California.... The Rurik made two important visits to Hawaii, and the Hawaiian portion of the text is extensive with important observations on life and customs during the reign of Kamehameha I, whose famous ‘red vest’ portrait by Choris is one of the illustrations,” Forbes: Hawaiian National Bibliography, v.1 p 359).

Lada-Mocarski notes in her Bibliography: 'This edition—all 3 variants—is in many ways superior to the subsequent editions, including the English translation (London, 1821). The three volumes are rich in early original source material on Alaska. The third volume is very important as it has considerable scientific data, comparative vocabulary of native languages...The colored plates of butterflies were not included in the Russian or English translations." (Bibliography of Books on Alaska published before 1868, pp. 288-9).

Eighty-eight copies were produced on fine "Velinpapier" with the plates finely handcolored; another issue with the plates colored, but mostly in sepia; and an issue on regular handmade paper, of which a limited number of copies have colored plates.

Provenance: On the front pastedown, leather bookplate of Christian Friedrich von Schrickell (1762-1835) of Görlitz, former owner of Rothenburg which burnt down in 1798. Frau von Schrickel is listed as a subscriber from Görlitz for one copy of Examplare 3.

Price: $8,500.00