Beneath Tropic Seas: A Record of Diving Among the Coral Reefs of Haiti (association copy)

NY: G.P. Putnam, 1928. First edition. Hardcover. Very good. A family association copy, signed on the second blank: "Inscribed for Leopold & Douglas Damrosch by William Beebe, John Tee-Van, and Tante Helen." Beebe, John Tee-Van, and Helen Damrosch Tee-Van's signatures are each in their own hand, a rare collection of signatures.

Beebe was a preeminent naturalist-writer, known especially for the far-flung ocean expeditions he conducted for the New York Zoological Society and his pioneering descents in a submersible "bathosphere." John Tee-Van authored one of the appendices in the book, "Methods in Submarine Photography"; he was recruited by Beebe to the Department of Tropical Research, and for 26 years was a member of Beebe's exploration team. Eventually Tee-Van became the director of the Bronx Zoo from 1952-1962. His wife Helen was a scientific illustrator (an early female scientific illustrator?) and worked for 41 years for Beebe and the New York Zoological Society (now the Wildlife Conservation Society), participating in many expeditions. Her papers at held at the University of Oregon. She is the aunt ("Tante") of the recipients--her maiden name Damrosch. The Damrosch's were a prominent musical family in NYC. On the first blank in yet another hand is written, "To Leopold and Douglas from Grandmama"--the book was earlier a gift from her, or she obtained these family signatures. 

Beneath Tropic Seas is a classic book from Beebe recounting his adventures on and underwater in Haiti, including chapters about tarpon, coral, sponges, and more. For good measure, finally there  are chapters on hummingbirds and another other avians. The book also describes their travels and logistics of the expedition. 

Green buckram boards; photographic endpapers in blue depicting a detail of a reef with a  fish and coral. Black and white photographic plates throughout. Very good with the gold of the title on the front board largely rubbed off, a little wear to corners, and softening to the front lower corner. Slight fraying to top of spine, some light scratching to rear board. Lacking a dust jacket. A serendipitous gathering of signatures from close associates at the influential New York Zoological Society.