This is the first of four volumes describing the US Naval astronomical expedition to the Southern Hemisphere from 1849-52. This complete volume focuses on Chile, and includes 7 maps and plans of Chile and its key cities. Also included are 7 chromolithographic plates of views and a portrait of the Araucanian Chief. One of the plates is a folding panoramic view of the summit of Santa Lucia, Santiago, which measures an impressive 68 x 9". The maps were engraved by Selmar Siebert, who was recruited from Hamburg to engrave for the United States government by Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, founder of the US Coast Survey. Hassler was not able to find copperplate engravers in the US that met his standards, and finally convinced Siebert and T. A. Rolle to emigrate to the US around 1840 and head his engraving group. The maps are:

A. Sheet I Map of the Republic of Chile...
B. Sheet II Map of the Republic of Chile...
C. Sheet III Map of the Republic of Chile...
D. Map of the Province of Santiago
E. Plan of the City of Santiago
F. Plan of the City of Valparaiso
G. Plan of Constitucion and Mouth of the Maule

556 pages, 14 illustrations. Quarto, original full leather covers and modern leather spine with burgundy label and gilt titling on spine.

References:

Condition: B+

Plates are generally clean and bright with occasional light toning and offsetting. Text has light toning, primarily along the edges. Title page and edges of text block are stamped with "Office of the Secretary of the Senate U.S." Covers are lightly worn and rubbed; new spine is pristine.