Geographisch-astronomische Reise nach den nördlichen Gegenden Russlands und zur Untersuchung der Mündung des Kowima-Flusses, der ganzen Küste der Tschutschken und der zwischen dem festen Lande on Asien und Amerika befindlichen Inseln.

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Remainder of title: Auf Befehl der Kaiserin von Russland, Catharine der Zweiten, in den Jahren 1785 bis 1794 unternommen vom Kapitan Joseph Billings und nach den original Papieren herausgegeben von Martin Sauer, Sekretär der Expedition. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt. Mit Kupfern und eine Karte. 8vo (205 x 129 mm.): [4], xvi, 410 pages, 2 folding plates, one folding map. Bound in original boards, morocco spine label (minor repair to free endpaper). PROVENANCE: from the library of Martin L. Greene, his sale of Russian America and polar exploration works at Christie s New York, 7 Dec. 2017, lot 154. THE FIRST GERMAN TRANSLATION OF SAUER S ACCOUNT OF BILLING S EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE. In 1785, the Russian government of Catherine the Great commissioned a new expedition in search for the Northeast Passage, led by English officer Joseph Billings, who had previously sailed with Captain Cook, with the Russian officer Gavril Sarychev as his deputy, and with Carl Heinrich Merck as the expedition s naturalist. The Billings expedition operated until 1795, and though frequently considered a failure, it nevertheless had a substantial record of achievement. Accurate maps were made of the Chukchi Peninsula in Eastern Siberia, the west coast of Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands. Members of the expedition landed on Kodiak Island and made an examination of the islands and mainlands of Prince William Sound. Additionally, the expedition compiled a census of the native population of the Aleutian Islands and reported to the crown stories of abuse by the Russian fur traders. After the expedition, Billings remained with the Imperial Russian Navy, before retiring in 1797 and settling in Moscow. REFERENCES: Lada-Mocarski 58; Tourville 3975; Wickersham 6136. N° de ref. del artículo 72JFP072

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