Description
PRESIDENT FILLMORE’S OWN COPY OF PERRY’S JAPAN, INSCRIBED TO HIM BY COMMODORE PERRY: AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY, WITH THE RARE SUPPRESSED BATHING PLATE, FEATURING PRESIDENT FILLMORE’S OWNER SIGNATURE DATED IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION AND WARMLY INSCRIBED BY COMMODORE PERRY TO PRESIDENT FILLMORE, WHO AUTHORIZED PERRY’S EXPEDITION
(FILLMORE, Millard) PERRY, Matthew C. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, performed in the years 1852, 1853 and 1854. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. Three volumes. Thick quarto, original blind- and gilt-stamped green cloth rebacked with original spines laid down.
First edition, presentation copy, House of Representatives issue, of this landmark of diplomacy and international commerce, with 116 full-page lithographs, most tinted and many in full color, 18 folding and numerous full-page charts, and over 70 in-text wood-engravings, with the rare suppressed nude bathing plate. The copy of President Millard Fillmore with his bold owner signature dated 1856, the year of publication, in Volume I and inscribed on the title page of Volume I by Commodore Perry, who Fillmore sent on the expedition: “For President Fillmore with the best respects of M.C. Perry.”
Appointed by Congress to establish diplomatic relations with Japan, Commodore Matthew C. Perry embarked in 1852 on a three-year mission of discovery. After a preliminary survey of the country, Perry decided that only by showing the superiority of the American navy could he hope to gain the attention of the monarchs who ruled Japan. His mission resulted in the signing of a landmark treaty (a facsimile of which is contained in this work) that finally opened Japan to the West. Perry’s visit “contributed to the collapse of the feudal regime and to the modernization of Japan” (Hill II, 230-31). “One of the chief diplomatic achievements of the 19th century” (DAB). Volume I contains 90 plates depicting scenes of Japanese life and the events of the expedition, including handsome color portraits and views, this copy with the rare suppressed plate “Public Bath at Simoda” (page 408), which was not included on the plate list and missing from most copies, and two folding charts; Volume II contains 27 natural history, ornithology, agriculture, and conchology plates (of which 18 are brilliantly hand-colored) and 16 folding charts (14 of which are large folding charts bound at the rear of the volume); Volume III contains hundreds of star charts. House of Representatives issue, printed by A.O.P. Nicholson. Hill 1332. Sabin 30958. This presentation/association copy of Perry’s Japan was given to President Millard Fillmore by Commodore Perry and bears both an inscription by Perry to President Fillmore as well as Fillmore’s owner signature dated in the year of publication. Accordingly, it is arguably one of the most rare and desirable copies of Perry’s Japan ever to become available, as Fillmore was responsible for Perry’s expedition to Japan. “Early in 1852, President Millard Fillmore ordered Perry to take command of the East Asia Squadron for the purpose of establishing official relations with the government of Japan—a country closed to almost all foreign contact for two and a half centuries. [Fillmore’s] most notable accomplishment was to send Commodore Matthew C. Perry to Japan to open diplomatic relations? Perry’s naval and diplomatic experience and his personality—a combination of sternness, tact, and integrity—were ideally suited for this delicate assignment? For the United States, Perry’s mission was an early expression of American commercial and strategic advance into the Pacific and East Asia? Perry was accorded a hero’s welcome on his return to New York City, and Congress rewarded his efforts with a twenty-thousand-dollar bonus. Perry took great satisfaction in his “opening” of Japan. He unquestioningly accepted the idea that western culture and technology were superior to that of the Orient, and he also envisioned the Pacific as the future outlet of America’s ‘manifest destiny.’ Perry promoted his expansionist beliefs in a three-volume narrative of his expedition, published over the years 1856-1858” (ANB). “E—2” written in ink on title page of Volume I. “5317” to “5319” written on title pages of Volumes I-III.
A few closed tears to fragile folding maps in Volume II, a few small tears to page 689 of Volume III. A near-fine inscribed copy with an unparalleled provenance.
