MICHELENA Y ROJAS, Francisco. Viajes Científicos en Todo el Mundo, desde 1822 hasta 1842;... dedicados A la Nacion Venezolana. Madrid: I. Boix, 1843.

MICHELENA Y ROJAS, Francisco. Viajes Científicos en Todo el Mundo, desde 1822 hasta 1842;... dedicados A la Nacion Venezolana. Madrid: I. Boix, 1843.

8° (258 x 180mm). Frontispiece portrait, folding route map, folding map of Sydney and 12 lithographic plates. (Some occasional light browning). Original blind-stamped maroon calf gilt, gilt edges (spine rubbed).

FIRST EDITION OF THIS VERY RARE PACIFIC VOYAGE, A PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE AUTHOR, inscribed on second blank. The Venezuelan author crossed the Pacific from Mazatlan to explore Hawaii, Tahiti, Rotuma, Fiji, and Australia, to which he devotes 100 pages. Hawaiian political history, traditions and customs are detailed and finely illustrated. From Vanikoro he proceeded to Guam, the Carolines and Philippines, Macao and Singapore. Seven voyages are related in 3 parts: Polynesia, Australia and the East Indies. Both Hill and Forbes list this as one of the rarest and least-known Pacific voyages. Hill, p. 498. Ferguson 3697. Forbes 1431.