Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle,
FITZROY, KING, (Capts. R. & P.P.), & DARWIN (Charles).
Between the Years 1826 and 1836, Describing Their Examination of the Southern Shores of South America, and the Beagle's Circumnavigation of the Globe.
First edition (first issue of volume 3). 4 vols. 9 folding maps (8 of these loose in a pocket, one linen backed) & 47 plates (some of these rather foxed). 8vo. Late nineteenth century calf. xxviii, [iv], 597; xiv, [ii], 694, [2]; xiv, 615; viii, [ii], 352pp. London, Henry Colburn, 1839
This is the official account of what is probably the most famous nineteenth-century naval exploring expedition. Darwin's contribution amounts to the entire third volume of the work and contains all his observations made during the expedition, including those which lead to the development of his theory of natural selection. It has therefore come to be considered a seminal work of natural history scholarship, and was issued separately under various different titles throughout the nineteenth century. Its importance, however, has tended to overshadow the hydrographical significance of the expedition which was considerable, especially for the detailed surveys made in Tierra del Fuego and along the coast of Patagonia.
The Beagle set sail from England twice. During its first voyage, under Capt. Pringle Stokes, the crew spent two years surveying the coasts of South America. When Stokes committed suicide in 1828, FitzRoy was given command. Having completed their survey in 1830, the Beagle sailed back to Plymouth where she was refitted (at FitzRoy's expense).
FitzRoy was reappointed as commander and ordered "to continue the charting of South America, as well as to run a chain of chronometric readings around the globe" (Howgego). The Beagle departed in late December 1831 and spent the next three and half years completing its survey of South America. In April 1835, the party sailed north to Peru before turning west and reaching the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin spent a month. They continued on to Tahiti and eventually completed a circumnavigation of the globe via New Zealand, Port Jackson, King George Sound and Mauritius. Sabin, 37826; Hill, p104/5; Freeman, 10; Howgego II, F10.
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