Journal of a Cruise Made to the Pacific Ocean By Captain David Porter in the United States Frigate Essex, in the Years 1812, 1813, and 1814. 2 Vols.

Hardcover. Modern spine and contemporary paper boards; black spine label printed in gilt; new endpapers. lxxvi + 246; 256 pp. Illustrated with 7 engraved plates; folding map; folding chart; frontispiece portrait engraving of Porter. Title continues: To Which Is Now Added, The Transactions At Valparaiso, From the Period Of The Author’s Arrival Until The Capture Of The Essex; The Fate Of The Party Left At Madison’s Island, Under Lieut. (Now Major) Gamble; And An Introduction, In Which The Charges Contained In the Quarterly Review, Of The First Edition Of This Journal, Are Examined, And the Ignorance, Prejudice, And Misrepresentations of the Reviewer Exposed. Soiling to contemporary paper boards; board extremities restored; top corners of both title-pages restored; one name only scored in ink (v.1, p.1); occasional minor and faint marginal damp staining; but overall the interior gives the impression of an unbelievable freshness. OUR COPY CONTAINS ALL 7 PLATES AND FRONTISPIECE (apparently unusual for this book). Porter, captain of a US navy frigate, engaged the British of the pacific coast of South America during the War of 1812, and was captured. The first edition (1815) of his journal was supressed, and this 2nd edition contains the first printing of details of Porter’s loss of the Essex to the British, as well as the new lengthy introduction. The book was a source for Herman Melville’s Typee.