Richard Henry jr. Dana

Two Years Before The Mast. A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea.

London: Edward Moxon 1841 8vo. Modern blue morocco, spine lettered in gilt, t.e.g. Some internal staining, else a fine copy. Presentation Copy, inscribed by Dana on the front flyleaf: “Benjamin Richardson Esquire/ With the regards/ of the author/ Boston 13 April 1847.” Second (first English) Edition. “One of the first and freshest, because of its plain factual nature, of American accounts of the sea, the book has added importance because . . . Dana journeyed up into the California cattle country, of which he gives us our only trustworthy account before the 1849 gold rush.”- Grolier American 46.Dana had to withdraw from Harvard when measles weakened his eyesight; in order to regain his health, he shipped to California as a sailor in 1834. His book has become a classic account of the life and adventures of an ordinary seaman in the American merchant service.He later became U.S. attorney for the district of Massachusetts and was nominated to the Court of Saint James. Presentation copies of this classic are very scarce.BAL 4434.

• USD 8,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 12512

• bookseller: J.N. Bartfield (USA)