GOLOVNIN, Vasily Mikhailovich (1776-1831) – Puteshestvie vokrug svieta po povelieniiu Gosudaria imperatora sovershennoe, na voennom shliupie Kamchatkie, v 1817, 1818 i 1819 godakh, flota kapitanom Golovninym. [Voyage around the world by order of His Majesty, the Emperor, on naval sloop Kamchatka in 1817, 1818, and 1819, by Fleet Captain Golovnin]. Two volumes. First Edition. Sankt Petersburg, 1822.

Contemporary Russian leather bindings with gold-embossed spines [c. 26,5 x 21 cm].

1^st volume: (10), 512, (2), XLIV pp. With 2 tables, 6 folded maps, 6 folded engravings;

2^nd volume: (10), 205, (2), CXXVII pp. With 1 folded engraving and 2 large folded maps (Sitka Bay and other adjacent parts of the Russian possessions on the northwest coast of America and the other of Chiniat Bay on Kodiak Island).

With the rare half-titles and Errata-leaves. Half-title of the first volume with purchase note from 1884. On the verso of the first volume’s title page with handwritten Ex-Libris.

Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin (1776-1831) was a prominent Russian naval officer and explorer known for his significant contributions to geographic exploration during the early 19th century. He is particularly noted for his two major voyages of circumnavigation, which are described in the present work.

In 1806, Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin was appointed commander of the sloop Diana. From 1807 to 1809, he undertook his first circumnavigation with the objectives of surveying the northern Pacific and delivering supplies to Okhotsk. During this voyage, he and his crew were captured by British authorities at the Cape of Good Hope but managed a daring escape to continue their journey to Kamchatka. In 1811, he mapped and described the Kuril Islands. However, violating Japan’s sakoku policy, which forbade foreign entry, led to his capture by the Japanese, nearly sparking a conflict between the two nations. Golovnin was released in 1813 and returned to Russia, where he published a detailed account of his captivity and observations on Japanese culture.

A decade later, from 1817 to 1819, Golovnin embarked on his second voyage on the sloop „Kamchatka.“ This journey, funded by the Russian Government, aimed to deliver supplies to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Okhotsk, observe the northwest coasts of North America, correct maps, and study the relationships between employees of the Russian-American Company and local inhabitants. Departing from Kronstadt, the „Kamchatka“ sailed to Rio de Janeiro, rounded Cape Horn, and called near Lima, Peru. After delivering supplies to Kamchatka, Golovnin’s expedition visited the Aleutian and Kodiak islands, followed by Novo-Arkhangelsk (present-day Sitka, Alaska).

The journey continued with visits to Fort Ross (near present-day San Francisco), Monterey, and Rumyantsev Bay (now Bodega Bay). From the coast of North America, Golovnin headed for the Hawaiian Islands. He spent 12 days there, where he met King Kamehameha I and gathered extensive information about the culture, traditions, economy, and history of the islands. An aide of the king introduced Golovnin to the local customs and provided detailed accounts of historical events, including the death of Captain James Cook.

After Hawaii, Golovnin visited Guam in the Mariana Islands and Manila, followed by St. Helena Island and the Azores. The „Kamchatka“ finally returned to Kronstadt on September 5, 1819. Among others, Second Lieutenant Friedrich Benjamin von Lutke (Polar explorer and later President of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Second Lieutenant Ferdinand von Wrangel, Second Lieutenant Fyodor Matyushkin and Mitschman Matvey Muravyov joined Golovnin in this trip.

Golovnin’s expeditions provided valuable contributions to geographic science, with his maps and descriptions known for their accuracy and detail. His observations on wind patterns and their influence on the weather were particularly noteworthy, and in 1873, the Naval Office published his meteorological observations from the „Kamchatka“ voyage.

Bindings slightly rubbed, the last plate in volume 1 somewhat creased, otherwise in very good condition.

This very rare first edition of Golovnin’s travel account not only chronicles extraordinary adventures but also provides significant contributions to geographic science. Golovnin’s precise maps and detailed descriptions are invaluable resources for historians and collectors alike.