NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION OF AN AMERICAN SQUADRON TO THE CHINA SEAS AND JAPAN, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, Under the Command of Commodore M. C. Perry, United States Navy, By Order of the Government of the United States. Compiled From the Original Notes and Journals of Commodore Perry and His Officers, At His Request and Under His Supervision. [Volume III titled:] UNITED STATES JAPAN EXPEDITION. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ZODIACAL LIGHT, From April 2, 1853, to April 22, 1855, Made Chiefly on Board The United States Steam-Frigate Mississippi, During Her Late Cruise in Eastern Seas, and Her Voyage Homeward; With Conclusions from the Data Thus Obtained; by Rev. George Jones, A.M., Chaplain United States Navy.

3 volumes. First Edition of the original three volume quarto issue. Profusely decorated with all illustrations called for or suppressed, Volume I with 90 lithographic plates INCLUDING the suppressed bathing plate which is not present in most copies, a great many of the plates in colours, and with the 3 "facsimiles" of Japanese woodblock prints in colours; 6 maps and charts (2 folding); 79 woodcuts in the text; Volume II with 79 woodcuts in the text, 4 coloured lithographs of Chinese scenes; 2 natural history engraved plates; 6 hand-coloured lithographs of birds; 10 hand-coloured steel-engraved plates of fish; 5 lithographs of shells, 2 hand-coloured; 16 diagram plates of winds and currents; the 14-page facsimile of the Japanese language version of the U.S.-Japan treaty, the English version and 17 large folding charts on 16 sheets; Volume III with the 352 full page woodcut star charts and observations on the zodiacal light as called for Thick, large quarto, handsomely bound in three quarter black morocco over black cloth covered boards, the spines gilt ruled and lettered in gilt, the covers with gilt rules at the joins. xvii, [1], 537 + plates; [viii], 414, [4], 14, [2], xi, [4] + plates and maps; xliii, [1], 705, [1] pages including the 352 full--page woodcut zodiacal star charts A very well preserved, clean and handsome copy, the bindings in fine order and the text-blocks and plates all beautifully preserved, the maps in a very pleasing state of preservation showing only light evidence of use or age.