Darwin, Charles, and Philip Parker King and Robert Fitzroy.

First edition, 4 volumes (volumes 1-3 and appendix to volume 2), 8vo (235 x 145mm.), half-titles in volumes 1-3, 48 engraved plates, 4 (of 8) folding maps in pockets at beginning of volumes, addenda leaf at end of vol.2, original cloth, [Freeman 10; Borba de Moraes p.247; Hill p.104; Sabin 37826], lacking 4 folding maps (those in pockets of vol.1 and 3), library blindstamp of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland on various pages and plates, plates with some spotting, maps in pockets somewhat browned and soiled, bindings somewhat soiled and worn

The first volume of the Narrative contains Captain King's account of the expedition in the Adventure between 1826 and 1830, which surveyed the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The second volume and appendix describe the second voyage of the Beagle under Captain Fitzroy between 1831 and 1836, which visited Brazil, Argentina, Tierra de Fuego, Chile, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and other islands and countries. The third volume is Darwin's own account of the voyage of the Beagle. As his first published book it is an outstanding account of natural history exploration which describes the fieldwork ultimately leading to On the Origin of Species.