Adam Johann von Krusenstern.

Voyage autour du monde, fait dans les annees 1803, 1804, 1805 et 1806, par les ordres de Sa Majestie Imperiale Alexandre Ier, empereur de Russie, sur les vaisseaux la Nadiejeda et la Neva. Paris: Gide fils, 1821

3 volumes (text: 2 volumes, 8vo, 203 x 139mm.; atlaಌs: folio, 469 x 304mm.), 30 engraved plates (portrait, 9 maps and 20 plates; 2 double-page maps), text volumes bound in grey paper boards, rebacked, paper labels, atlas bound to styl🎶e in grey paper boards

FIR🐲ST FRENCH EDITION, WITH THE VER✃Y RARE ATLAS NOT PUBLISHED WITH THE ENGLISH EDITION.

This is an account of the first Russian circumnavigation, written by its commander, and of great importance to Pacific history for his account of the attempt to open Japan to commerce, and for Krusenstern's notes on the Russian-Chinese trade. The expedition comprised two ships, the Nadezhda and the Neva, which sailed from Kronstadt on 19 July 1803 and were together until the Marquesas and Hawaii. They visited Hawaii in the summer of 1804, touching briefly on the Big Island to trade for needed supplies. From there Krusenstern sailed in the Nadezhda for Kamchatka, where he made extensive surveys and ethnographic inquiries. Japan was the focus of the expedition: they arrived at Nagasaki on 30 August 1804 with the emissary from the Tsar, taking gifts including looking glasses and a portrait of Catherine the Great. Hoping to open a trade mission, and expecting more freedom than was granted the Dutch, they found themselves "greatly mistaken". They were kept in confinement and suspense, and at the audience the following April, the negotiations c🎃ollapsed. The♎ ships' repairs were put to the Imperial account, all gifts were sent back, and they were politely but firmly asked not to return.

The narrative contains a detailed account of the negotiations and includes a view of Nagasaki Harbor, one of the first views of Japan published in the west. Krusenstern charted much of the west coast of Japan, made a short stop at Hokkaido, and🐼 at Aniwa Bay, and gives an account of his contact with Ainu people. The fine atlas is illustrated with twenty-one lithographic plates by Engelmann and nine engraved maps (three folding). Though unsigned, O'Reilly says the plates are probably the work of Tilesius, one of the naturalists of the ship. They include a portrait of Krusenstern, four views of Nukuhiwa and eight of Japan (including the Ainu). The maps include three of the Marquesas and four of Japanese interest.

"The atlas volume is very important a🐓nd is difficult to obtain" (Hill).

Hill, pp. 167-68; Forbes, Hawaii 530; Kroepelien 695; Sabin 38382; O'Rei♛lly & ဣReitman 732