Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, describing their Examination of the Southern Shores of South America, and the Beagle's Circumnavigation of the Globe.

London, Henry Colburn, 1839, 3 vols in four (vol 2 having a separate Appendix), 8vo (235 x 145 mm), pp xxviii [iv] 1-559, 556-597 [recte 601]; xiv [ii] 694 [2]; viii 352; xiv 629 [609]–615, with 8 engraved folding maps and charts (loosely inserted in pockets at the front of each volume, as issued, the ribbon for extracting the charts still present in each pocket except one), 48 plates and charts, and 6 text illustrations;, without the foxing that often occurs, in original publisher’s cloth, partially unopened, a little restoration to the bindings, hinges of volume 3 repaired, a remarkably fresh and clean copy

First edition, a very attractive set, of the complete narrative of ‘one of the most famous scientific expeditions in history’ (DSB). The third volume comprises Darwin’s own journal of his voyage in the Beagle, which is the first issue of his first published book.

Darwin’s Journal of researches as it became known was his first formal publication and a classic of natural history travel narrative. It was perhaps the most important scientific voyage ever undertaken, for it gave impetus and direction to all of Darwin’s later research. ‘The five years of the voyage were the most important event in Darwin’s intellectual life and in the history of biological science. Darwin sailed with no formal scientific training. He returned a hard-headed man of science, knowing the importance of evidence, almost convinced that species had not always been as they were since the creation but had undergone change. He also developed doubts of the value of the Scriptures as a trustworthy guide to the history of the earth and of man, with the result that he gradually became an agnostic. The experiences of his five years in the Beagle, how he dealt with them, and what they led to, built up into a process of epoch-making importance in the history of thought’ (Gavin de Beer in DSB).

Volume I of the Narrative concerns the initial surveying expedition, 1826–30, under Philip Parker King in the Adventure, during which FitzRoy succeeded Pringle Stokes as commander of the accompanying Beagle. Volume II describes FitzRoy’s continuation and completion of the survey with the Beagle alone, ending in 1836. ‘The surveys he carried out in South American waters established FitzRoy as a first-rate hydrographer and won for him the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1837). Because his marine surveys were accurate to such a high degree they are still used as the foundation for a number of charts of that area’ (DSB).

Freeman 10; Freeman Companion p 213; Norman 584