Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - March - 2008 Issue
Travel and Exploration from Antiquariat Ralf Eigl
The River Niger from William Allen's visit.
Alejandro Malaspina (with Don Jose de Bustamante y Guerra) conducted one of the major explorations of America's Pacific Coast, though their accomplishments have gone mostly unnoticed. Malaspina formed an expedition that went on for five years and traveled from Spain to Mexico, Alaska, and numerous other locations, such as the Philippines and New Zealand. Two years into the journey, the Spanish King notified them to search for a Northwest Passage, which they did, unsuccessfully like so many others. Despite the wide travels and numerous scientific discoveries, Malaspina found himself locked in the political intrigues of Europe following the French Revolution after his return. He was imprisoned and his reports were suppressed, resulting in his work going almost unrecognized. Item 44 is his and Bustamante's account, Viaje Politico-Cientifico alrededor del Mundo... It was not published until 1885, almost a century after the 1789-94 journey. €4,900 ($7,192).
It would not be that much later that German naturalist Georg von Langsdorff would find himself visiting Alaska. Item 41 is his Voyages and Travels in Various Parts of the World during the Years 1803...1807, published in 1813/1814. He visited Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands and Alaska (also part of Russia at the time). The winter of 1805-6 was particularly bad, and Langsdorff sailed to San Francisco to get supplies. The following winter would find him back in Kamchatka, and after that, he returned home overland via Siberia. €12,500 (US $18,348).
Item 3 is Picturesque Views on the River Niger, Sketched during Lander's Last Visit in 1832-33. Author William Allen accompanied Richard Lander on his expedition up the Niger. This work includes ten hand-colored lithographed plates of scenes along the river. €6,900 (US $10,128).
You may visit Antquariat Ralf Eigl online at www.AntiquariatEigle.de or contact them at RalfEigl@t-online.de or (00 49) (0) 80 31 / 3 35 04.
