Washington: GPO;, 1869. 251pp, 8 plates (2 folding). Recased with new spine and endpapers. Some internal browning and occasional manuscript corrections, withal very good. George Davidson (1825-1911) was a geographer and astronomer who was on the staff of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey for fifty years. He surveyed the coast of Alaska in 1867 even before the territory was purchased from Russia, and this volume is a landmark in the charting of the region. Davidson's report provides information on harbors, climate, and resources in addition to including vocabularies for several native groups. The tipped in color lithographic plates show harbor entrances and views, the folding plates provide two views of Sitka from off shore. A foundation work for the American exploration of Alaska. Item #23956

Price: $750.00