Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan. An important work recording Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan.

William Heine was the official artist on Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853 to 1854. On returning to the United States, he produced several series of prints commemorating the trip. A group of six elephant-folio prints appeared in 1855, and the following year the present volume was issued in a smaller format, with different images, and with explanatory text. Both projects employed the New York lithographic firm of Sarony, among the best lithographers in the United States at that time. 'As artistic productions, the pictures speak for themselves... none superior to them have been executed in the United States, and they have no cause to shun comparison with some of the best productions of Europe' (Introduction). Copies were produced tinted on regular paper and in deluxe format as here.

Bennett describes the plates as ''many times finer than those in the regular account of the Perry expedition'. His remarks on the work's great rarity are confirmed by its absence from both of Cordier's Japanese bibliographies. The plates are numbered and titled as follows: [1. portrait of Perry]; 2. Macao from Penha Hill; 3. Whampoa Pagoda; 4. Old China Street, Canton; 5. Kung-kwa at On-na, Lew-Chew; 6. Mia or road side chapel at Yokuhama; 7. Temple of Ben-teng in the harbor of Simoda; 8. Street and bridge at Simoda; 9. Temple of the Ha-tshu Man-ya-tshu-ro at Simoda; 10. Grave yard at Simoda Dio Zenge.

First edition, the deluxe issue; folio (52.5 x 37 cm); letterpress text, 10 lithographic prints including one tinted portrait of Perry from a daguerreotype by P. Haas, and 9 views by Heine, some printed in colours, some with hand finishing, all on india paper mounted on card, all printed by Sarony & Co., publisher's full embossed brown morocco gilt, rebacked, all edges gilt, modern morocco-backed foldover box, a fine copy.

Bennett 53; Bobins 291; McGrath (American Color Plate Books), 123.