MATTHEW PERRY OPENS TRADE WITH JAPAN

Hawks, Francis L. NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION OF AN AMERICAN SQUADRON TO THE CHINA SEAS AND JAPAN, PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1852, 1853, AND 1854, UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMODORE M. C. PERRY, UNITED STATES NAVY, BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. COMPILED FROM THE ORIGINAL NOTES AND JOURNALS OF COMMODORE PERRY AND HIS OFFICERS, AT HIS REQUEST, AND UNDER HIS SUPERVISION. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. Washington: Beverly Tucker, Senate Printer. 1856.

4to; three volumes. Vol. I (Report of the expedition with many full-page lithographs): xvii, errata, & 537pp. Vol. II (Natural history reports with numerous full-page hand-colored lithographs of birds, fish, etc.): (8), 414, (4), 18, xi & (1)pp. Vol. III (Zodiacal observations): xliii, 705pp & 14 terminal folding charts. 

Uniformly bound in contemporary half green morocco with marbled flyleaves and red edges. A small amount of rubbing to leather, a few scuffs to boards. Immaculately clean internally. An unusually fine set with all plates including the nude bathing scene (tipped in opposite p.405 in volume 1) that is not included in the table of illustrations.

"In March 1852, Commodore Perry was appointed commander of a naval expedition to be sent to Japan to induce their government to establish diplomatic relations with the United States. Perry felt the only way to force Japan to cease her isolationist foreign policy would be through exhibiting superior naval forces. After entering Araga Harbor on July 8, 1853, the Japanese were eventually forced to accept a treaty that stipulated better treatment of shipwrecked seamen and permitted American ships to obtain fuel and supplies at two Japanese ports, Hakodate and Shimoda. The most important result, however, was that the visit contributed to the collapse of the feudal regime and to the modernization of Japan. Hawks, the editor of this work, was rector of Calvary church, New York City. The Commodore, underrating his literary powers, declined to write the official report of the expedition. Instead, Hawks was engaged as editor and the two worked together in preparing the report using a number of journals written by men on the voyage." Hill, pp. 230-231.