Across America and Asia. Notes of a Five Years' Journey Around the World and of Residence In Arizona, Japan and China

New York: Leypoldt & Holt, 1870. First. hardcover. very good(+). Frontispiece, protected with tissue, and with 3 folding maps, 12 plates, and numerous in-text figures. xvi, 454 pages. Thick 8vo, original burgundy cloth with gilt-stamped globe on cover (spine evenly sunned and just a bit soft at ends; contemporary pencil ownership name on flyleaf; light foxing at front and rear and offsetting from frontis. on title page). New York: Leypoldt & Holt, 1870. First edition. A very good(+) copy.

Pumpelly was an adventurer, geologist and mining engineer whose profession took him to Japan, China, Siberia, etc. This is an account of his travels (truncated) and cultural observations. The first four chapters deal with Arizona, where he was involved in developing silver mines, while the rest deal with his extensive travels in Japan, China & Siberia. Chapter XIV, written by Pumpelly's friend John La Farge, constitutes one of the earliest Western appreciations of the importance of the art of the Japanese; illustrated with 4 facsimile woodcuts. (Inventory #: 324194)