Malaspina in California

Book Description

San Francisco: John Howell-Books, 1960 First edition. Quarto. 96pp. Frontis map, 18 plates (2 colored), 2 folding tables. Gilt-lettered and decorated tan cloth. A very fine copy. Limited to 1,000 copies designed and printed by Lawton Kennedy. The scientific expedition of Alejandro Malaspina "was probably Spain's greatest exploratory contribution to the age of enlightenment," and the September, 1791 visit to California resulted in one of the earliest and best descriptions of the province's settlements. John Green, a member of the crew, was the first American known to have landed in California. The work is illustrated with contemporary sketches, including four previously unpublished full-color drawings of birds by Jose Cardero. [Rocq: 5494]. .

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