[DANA, RICHARD HENRY, Jr.]. Two Years Before the Mast. A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea, New York: Harper 1840. 12mo, original coarse dark brown cloth, wear at ends of spine and corners, sides slightly soiled, front free endpaper lacking, some light foxing, half morocco slipcase. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, BAL's Binding A (but only noting black cloth).

Details

[DANA, RICHARD HENRY, Jr.]. Two Years Before the Mast. A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea, New York: Harper 1840. 12mo, original coarse dark brown cloth, wear at ends of spine and corners, sides slightly soiled, front free endpaper lacking, some light foxing, half morocco slipcase. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, BAL's Binding A (but only noting black cloth).

The author's first book. "Our only trustworthy account [of California] before the 1849 gold rush"--Grolier/American 46; "[Dana's] book has become a classic account of the life and adventures of an ordinary seaman in the American merchant service. It concerns his experiences in California in 1835-36, Juan Fernandez Island, Cape Horn, etc., and is invaluable for its descriptions of California ranching and social life in Mexican times, including San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Monterey"--Hill, pp. 78-79; BAL 4434; Cowan (I), p. 62; Cowan (II), p. 156; Graff 998; Howes D 49; Zamorano 80, no. 26.

Provenance: George Barr McCutcheon, bookplate.