Account of the Russian discoveries between Asia and America. To which are added, the conquest of Siberia, and the history of the transactions and commerce between Russia and China

London: Printed by J. Nichols, for T. Cadell, 1780. 4to. (10 1/4 x 8 1/8 inches). pp. [v] vi-xxii, [2] 3-344, [16], including index and advertisment leaf. Five engraved maps, charts and panorama plate. Contemporary full red morocco, spine with raised bands forming six compartments, elaborately tooled and lettered gilt, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt.

A very fine copy in a fine contemporary red morocco binding of an account of the Russian Discoveries between Asia and America offering a detailed examination of Russian explorations in North Western America, highlighting interactions with Indigenous peoples and the implications for trade and imperial (truncated) expansion during the late 18th century.

William Coxe, an English historian and clergyman, is best known for his travel writings and historical works, many of which focused on Eastern Europe and Russia. Educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, Coxe served as a tutor to the British aristocracy. The present work draws upon Coxe's deep research into Russian sources, as well as his connections with diplomats and explorers of the era. This seminal work provides a comprehensive account of the exploratory voyages undertaken by Russian navigators in the late 18th century, detailing their interactions with indigenous peoples and the geographical complexities of the Bering Strait. Coxe synthesizes firsthand accounts and navigational charts, illuminating the significance of these discoveries for both Russian expansion and the burgeoning interest in the North Pacific region. His exploration of trade routes and the potential for commercial enterprise underscores the growing global interconnectedness of the era, marking a pivotal moment in the history of exploration and imperial ambition. Coxe's historical narrative, combined with detailed maps, illuminates these expeditions and the growing commercial exchanges between Russia and China during the 18th century, giving European readers an unprecedented view of Russia's geopolitical ambitions in the East. List of maps and charts: 1.) General Map of the Russian Empire 2.) Krenitzin's and Levasheff's Voyage to Fox Islands in 1768 and 1769 3.) Chart of Synd's Voyage Towards Tschukotskoi Noss 4.) Chart of Shalauroff's Voyage

ESTC T134277; Howes C-834; Forbes 134; Hill 391(first); Sabin 17309; Lada-Mocarski 29; Streeter Sale 3502; Smith 29851; Wickersham 5882. (Inventory #: 41893)