Haws, Francis L. | The first comprehensive view of Japan

Haws, Francis L.

Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China Seas and Japan … under the command of Commodore M. C. Perry. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson (Vols. I and II), and Beverly Tucker (Vol. II), 1856

3 volumes, 4to (285 x 225 mm). 133 plates (tinted, colored, and some folding), including the suppressed nude bathing plate "Public Bath at Simoda" (Vol. I, p. 408), 22 maps, 18 of which folding, numerous in-text illustrations; foxing, browning, and offsetting, short tears to maps, some of which detached from textblock. Original publisher's purple cloth, covers and spines pictorially stamped in blind and black; rubbed and faded with fraying, splitting, and staining, Vol. I rebacked to style, Vol. II and III rebacked with original spines laid down, joints of Vol. III weak with interior split.

Sold not subject to return.

First edition. "In March of 1852, Perry was appointed commander of a naval expedition to Japan, with orders to induce the Japanese government to enter into diplomatic relations with the United States. Perry believed that the only way to force Japan to abandon her isolationist foreign policy was through a display of superior naval force. After his entry into Araga Harbour on July 1853, the Japanese were eventually compelled to accept a treaty stipulating better treatment of shipwrecked seamen and opening the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda. The most significant result, however, was that Perry's visit contributed to the collapse of the feudal regime and to the subsequent modernization of Japan" (Hill).

REFERENCE

Hill 1332; Sabin 30968

PROVENANCE

Frederick Brown (ownership inscription to front free endpaper of Vol. III)