"[Lot of 2] Chart Shewing the Track of H.M.S. Blossom, and the Situation of Her Discoveries, in 1825-26-27 & 28 [and] Chart of Part of the North West Coast of America, from Point Rodney to Point Barrow...", Beechey, Frederick William

This lot contains the two larger maps (of three) that were issued in Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beering's Strait... and depict Beechey's three year expedition to the Bering Strait and northwestern Alaska.

A. Chart Shewing the Track of H.M.S. Blossom, and the Situation of Her Discoveries, in 1825-26-27 & 28 (19.2 x 14.3"). Shows the path of Beechey's expedition from England to Alaska with stops in the Society Islands, Hawaiian Islands, San Francisco Bay, Kamtschatka, Bering Strait, and Barrow. Detail is confined to the coastline. A note below the title indicates that the "names of the islands underlines near the track shew that they were not seen." Condition: Light offsetting, scattered foxing, and trimmed to the neatline at left and right. There is a long separation along a fold at lower right with a small chip that has been archivally repaired.

B. Chart of Part of the North West Coast of America, from Point Rodney to Point Barrow... (13.1 x 17.3"). Features good detail from the Bering Strait to Barrow with numerous soundings, shoals and notations along the coast. The packed ice lines are identified as of August 1826 and 1827, and above Barrow is "Packed Ice as far as could be seen." Includes an inset of Kotzebue Sound and two approach views. Condition: Light offsetting, scattered foxing, and two short fold separations that just pass the neatline at left. An edge tear at bottom that extends 2" into the image has been archivally repaired.

Frederick William Beechey was appointed to command the HMS Blossom in 1825 after serving under Lieutenant John Franklin and Lieutenant William Parry. In addition to his surveying around the Bering Strait, he named Point Barrow, discovered a harbor near Cape Prince of Wales, and found a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

References: Howes #B309; Sabin #4347; Streeter Sale #3517.

Condition: B

Issued folding. See description above for additional details.