Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 (5 Volumes) by Wilkes, Charles

Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard 1845, later printing. (Hardcover set) lviii, 434, xii, 476, xii, 438, xiv, 542, xii, 558pp. Very good. Issued in 5 volumes in the smaller format (23.5x15cm) and without the atlas. This set is bound in full calf with leather spine labels. 10 folding maps and 3 folding tables, woodcut illustrations, complete crew list, appendices, index. This is a tight and generally clean set with some occasional spotting and browning on the pages, there are no tears on the maps. The inner hinges have been expertly repaired with rice paper and the spines have also been reinforced with rice paper (unfortunately the binder didn't get a good match on the coloring and thus the repairs are obvious. "The Wilkes Expedition played a major role in development of 19th-century science, particularly in the growth of the U.S. Scientific establishment. Many of the species and other items found by the expedition helped formed the basis of collections at the new Smithsonian Institution. with the help of the expedition's scientists, derisively called "clam diggers" and "bug catchers" by navy crewmembers, 280 islands (mostly in the Pacific Ocean) were explored, and over 800 miles of Oregon were mapped. Of no less importance, over 60,000 plant and bird specimens were collected. A staggering amount of data and specimens were collected during the expedition, including the seeds of 648 species, which were later traded, planted, and sent throughout the country. Dried specimens were sent to the National Herbarium, now a part of the Smithsonian Institution. There were also 254 live plants, which mostly came from the home stretch of the journey, that were placed in a newly constructed greenhouse in 1850, which later became the United States Botanic Garden." Wikipedia. Locale: Antarctic; Australia; California; Hawaii; New Zealand; Pacific Ocean. (Antarctica, Exploration, Flying Fish, U.S.S., Oregon, U.S.S., Peacock, U.S.S., Porpoise, U.S.S., Relief, U.S.S., Sea Gull, U.S.S., United States Exploring Expedition 1838-1842, Vincennes, U.S.S., Voyages and Travels, Wilkes Expedition).