Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle Between the Years 1826 and 1836 - Appendix to Volume II; Describing Their Examination of the Southern Shores of South America and the Beagle's Circumnavigation of the Globe

London: Henry Colburn, 1839. First Edition. Very Good. [9.25x6in] viii, 352 pp., Listed two folding maps, four illustrations, two diagrams, also includes three additional and unlisted folding maps from Volumes I and II, and many schedules accompanying narrative; Rebound in 20th century gray buckram cloth with black leather label with gilt lettering and design, all folding maps with linen backing and bound in rear, new end papers, edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to covers with light stains and soiling, label scraped with partial loss of design, top edge darkened, some age toning to text, edges and maps, light stains to back several maps and minor misfolds due to linen and binding. [Hill 607, Howgego II F10 and K13] CS. In 1826, the Admiralty sent Captain Philip Parker King, H.M.S. Adventure, and Captain Pringle Stokes, H.M.S. Beagle, to survey the coasts of Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan. Using the latest surveying equipment, the ships charted the Strait of Magellan in detail and discovered the Beagle Channel. During this voyage, Captain Stokes committed suicide and was replaced by Lieutenant Robert FitzRoy (1805-1865). For the second voyage in 1831-36, FitzRoy was appointed Captain of a refitted Beagle to complete the surveys begun in the first voyage, continue surveys of the Pacific South American coast and island and then circumnavigation return to England. FitzRoy selected Charles Darwin (1809-1882), an amateur naturalist, to also perform geology and other scientific analysis of the land and islands. During that voyage, Darwin researched and collected samples of plants, animals, minerals, fossils, many for the first time, to develop a better understanding of the natural environments and impact on living things. The information from this voyage provided Darwin a life's work of research, papers and books.

The charts, maps, and narrative in this Appendix to Volume II are from both voyages, and is complete with all the maps, illustrations and diagrams as listed. This book also includes three folding maps that are not listed in the Appendix and are listed in Volumes I and II. In addition, all of the folding maps were intended to be loose and inserted in to a pocket in the rear cover. This Appendix has been rebound with all maps bound in.

The maps are (1) Chiloe and Parts of the Adjacent Coasts from H.M.S. Beagle 1835, (2) Part of Tierra Del Fuego from H.M.S. Beagle 1834 with Note: Staten Land from H.M.S. Chanticleer and part of the Strait of Magelhaens from H.M.S. Adventure, (3) The Strait of Magelhaens commonly called Magellan Surveyed by the Officers of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle Under the Direction of Captains Philip Parker King F.R.S, Pringle Stokes and Robert Fitz-Roy 1826-34, (4) General Chart shewing the Principal Tracks of H.M.S. Beagle 1831-36, (5) Dangerous Archipelago of the Paaminto or Low Islands by Admiral Krusenstern 1837 with additions by Robt. Fitz-Roy 1838. The last two maps were listed as part of the Appendix.