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Perry was appointed commander of a naval expedition to Japan, with orders to induce the Japanese government to enter into diplomatic relations with the United States. Perry believed that the only way to force Japan to abandon her isolationist foreign policy was through a display of superior naval force. After his entry into Araga Harbor on July 8, 1853, the Japanese were eventually compelled to accept a treaty stipulating better treatment of shipwrecked seamen and opening the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda. The most significant result, however, was that Perry?s visit contributed to the collapse of the feudal regime and to the subsequent modernization of Japan. Francis Lister Hawks, the editor of this work, was rector of Calvary Church in New York City. Commodore Perry declined to write the official report of the expedition, underrating his own literary skills. Hawks was then engaged as editor and the two worked together to prepare the report, using a number of journals written by men on the voyage. Journalist Bayard Taylor (q.v.) accompanied this expedition for a part of the time, and his papers were among those used in the preparation of this report.? (Hill), Size : Large 4to, Profusely illustrated with in-text woodcuts. Illustrated with 154 plates, 93 of which are tinted lithographs, 21 of which are hand colored and with 23 maps (some folding) & and 16 of which are charts.This is the rare set which includes the suppressed Bathing or nude bath house plate and scene found some believe in the House Edition not in the Senate Edition. Sets were in a very limited Edition. I am sure that fewer than 300 sets were produced total. . There are also a profusion of in-text star charts in volume 3., Volume : Three Volumes, References : Sabin pp. 159-60 (unnumbered, listed as BA); Cordier Japonica 513-4; Cordier Sinica 2122-3; Bennett 88; Hill 1332. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the Command of Commodore M. C. Perry, United States Navy, by Order of the Government of the United States. / Compiled from the Original Notes and Journals of Commodore Perry and his Officers, at his Request, and under his Supervision, By Francis L. Hawks, D.D. L. L. D. with Numerous Illustrations. / Published by Order of the Congress of the United States. [Three Volumes] M.C. Perry; Francis L. Hawks In large 4to volumes near fine original cloth light blue Navy cloth gilt, pictorial spines and embossed figured cloth, near fine, all the plates and leaves are clean, and free of any foxing, this is the finest set of this work I have ever seen in pristine original condition. Collated complete with the rare bathing plate.
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