Description
First edition of A Voyage Round the World by William Ruschenberger, published in Philadelphia in 1838.
Octavo, 559pp. Period marbled boards, rebuilt spine with gilt ruled lines, title in gilt over leather label. Intermittent foxing and toning throughout, not affecting text in a significant way. This copy has been professionally restored, with a new leather spine, resewn text block, reinforced headband. Lacking the 12pp of advertisements at rear. (Howes R514a) (Sabin 74197) This work was followed by the first English edition the same year, published by Richard Bentley, in two volumes.
William Samuel Waithman Ruschenberger (1807-1895) was a surgeon in the United States Navy. Leaving in 1835, he traveled with United States diplomat Edmund Roberts to Muscat and Siam aboard the USS Peacock. During this voyage, he also visited China, India, the Hawaiian Islands and California. His early descriptions of California are notable for their candor.
