Rare Early Map - Russia and Alaska - Sauer and Billings
Martin Sauer and Joseph Billings
Title: Ueber die Diesem Hefte beygefügte Charte von dem
Meere von Kamtschatka. [Issues Concerning the Map of the Kamchatka Seas.]
Weimar: Industrie-Comptoirs, 1803. 8vo. 3 pages, plus a large colour map
which measures approximately 18 inches x 15.5 inches (44 cm x 40 cm).
Text is in German. A scarce primary resource and historically significant map.
This is a complete monthly issue, containing the above mentioned account and map.
Attractively bound booklet style in recent blue paper covers with label.
An early and scarce map of the Kamchatka Peninsula, accompanied by a 3 page
description of individual expeditions and outline of new placenames.
The remarkable map illustrates the Bering Sea and Russian Alaska, with the
tracts of Joseph Billings and Martin Sauers. Exception in its detail of the
Aleutian Islands and the Kuril Islands. Fascinating in its depiction of the
coast of Alaska, including the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound.
Map extends into Eastern Russia north of the Sea of Okhotsk, to the
North Polar Seas, and as far north as the Lisburne Peninsula on Alaska's Coast.
Very little coastline is chart beyond Point Hope.
These are the original pages and map printed in 1803, and NOT a reprint.
This narrative is from a rare multi-volume geographical and scientific journal titled "Allgemeine Geographische Ephemeriden", which issued fifty volumes from 1798-1816
and which encompassed critical contemporary topics of geography and astronomy.
Adam Christian Gaspari and Franz Xaver von Zach were editors of this important
scientific journal.
Martin Sauer was appointed to the Russian expedition of 1785 to 1793,
under the command of Joseph Billings, who was Astronomer's Assistant on
Captain Cook's and Captain Clerk's previous voyage, and with the patronage of
Russian Empress Catherine II. The expedition's purpose was to explore, to map
and evaluate the potential advantages of the northern regions of Russia and North America. Members of the expedition landed on Kodiak Island and made an examination
of the islands and mainlands of Prince William Sound. Additionally, the expedition compiled a census of the native population of the Aleutian Islands and reported
to the crown stories of abuse by the Russian fur traders. Accurate maps were
made of the Chukchi Peninsula in Eastern Siberia, the west coast of Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands.
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VOYAGER PRESS BOOKS 1.888.656.2006
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