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DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882); Capt. Robert FITZROY (1805-1865); and Capt. Philip Parker KING (1793-1856). Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, describing their Examination of the Southern Shores of South America, and the Beagle's Circumnavigation of the Globe. London: Henry Colburn, 1839.
3 volumes in 4 (Vols I-III and Appendix to Vol. II), 8o (235 x 149 mm). 9 folding engraved maps (8 loose in cover pockets, one bound in) by J. Gardner and J. and C. Walker; 47 etched plates after P. King, A. Earle, C. Martens, R. Fitzroy and others by T. Landseer, S. Bull, T. Prior and others (a few small repairs to creases in map of Keeling Islands, some slight browning and occasional tiny holes to creases in others, some foxing to most plates, occasional light spotting and faint marginal browning to text). Original blue cloth (Freeman variant A), covers blindstamped, spines gilt-lettered, edges uncut (Vol. III presumably from another set, recased and rebacked, preserving original spine, covers and extremities rubbed; very slight wear to extremities of other volumes, spines faded). Provenance: George Stebbing, instrument maker on the Beagle (his ownership inscription on half title of Vol. I: "Geo Jas Stebbing the gift of Captn Fitzroy R.N. 3rd June 1839"); small ink stamp of anchor within wreath with initials "S.S." on front pastedown of all but last volume.
FINE ASSOCIATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF DARWIN'S FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK, with the First Issue of Vol. III. George James Stebbing, eldest son of a Portsmouth mathematical instrument-maker, was one of the 74-strong crew of the Beagle. This crew was composed of 65 "officers and men" and 9 supernumaries, including Stebbing who had been engaged "to secure the constant ... attendance required by a large number of chronometers, and to be enabled to repair our instruments and keep them in order". Also amongst these extras were Augustus Earle, serving as the ship's draughtsman, and "Mr. Charles Darwin ... a young man of promising ability, extremely fond of geology, and indeed all branches of natural history" (Vol. II, pp. 19-20, Voyages of the Adventure and the Beagle).
Darwin's account of his travels, including his visit to the Galapagos Islands, forms Vol. III of this work. "The five years of the voyage were the most important event in Darwin's intellectual life and in the history of biological science" (DSB). Vol. I contains King's account of the expedition in the Adventure made between 1826 and 1830, surveying the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. In Vol. II (and its appendix volume) Capt. Fitzroy described the narrative of the Beagle's second voyage, between 1831 and 1836 to South America, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia and other countries. Freeman 10; Hill I, pp. 104-05; Sabin 37826. (4)
3 volumes in 4 (Vols I-III and Appendix to Vol. II), 8
FINE ASSOCIATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF DARWIN'S FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK, with the First Issue of Vol. III. George James Stebbing, eldest son of a Portsmouth mathematical instrument-maker, was one of the 74-strong crew of the Beagle. This crew was composed of 65 "officers and men" and 9 supernumaries, including Stebbing who had been engaged "to secure the constant ... attendance required by a large number of chronometers, and to be enabled to repair our instruments and keep them in order". Also amongst these extras were Augustus Earle, serving as the ship's draughtsman, and "Mr. Charles Darwin ... a young man of promising ability, extremely fond of geology, and indeed all branches of natural history" (Vol. II, pp. 19-20, Voyages of the Adventure and the Beagle).
Darwin's account of his travels, including his visit to the Galapagos Islands, forms Vol. III of this work. "The five years of the voyage were the most important event in Darwin's intellectual life and in the history of biological science" (DSB). Vol. I contains King's account of the expedition in the Adventure made between 1826 and 1830, surveying the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. In Vol. II (and its appendix volume) Capt. Fitzroy described the narrative of the Beagle's second voyage, between 1831 and 1836 to South America, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia and other countries. Freeman 10; Hill I, pp. 104-05; Sabin 37826. (4)