Beschreibung:

RIKORD, Petr Ivanovich (1776-1855). Zapiski flota kapitana Rikorda o plavanii ego k Yaponskim beregam v 1812 i 1813 godakh . [Fleet Captain Rikord’s Account of his sailing to Japan's shores in 1812 and 1813, and of his relations with the Japanese.] St. Petersburg: Naval Press, 1816. The first edition of Rikord’s account of his expedition to rescue Golovnin : an important first-hand account of early contact between Japan and Russia, and of one of the most notorious diplomatic incidents of its day. Rikord sailed to Japan on the Russian sloop-of-war Diana , taking several hostages along the way, including the merchant Takadaya-Kahei (1769-1827). Rikord landed at Kunashie where he negotiated the eventual release of Golovnin, averting war with Japan. Takadaya-Kahei spent several months in Kamchatka and was instrumental in convincing the Japanese government that the Russians could be trusted. He later helped settle between the two nations territorial disputes in the Kuril Islands. Golovnin’s account of his captivity was published in the same year (see lot 81). Whittaker, Russia Engages the World , p.189; not in Obol'ianinov (which notes only an 1851 edition). Quarto (238 x 182mm). Engraved portrait of Takadaya-Kahei, and 4 engraved folding plans after Rikord (small punctures and small marginal wormhole in the first few leaves). Contemporary boards with modern red half sheep spine and corners, blue leather spine label (rebacked and recornered). Provenance : Wayfarer’s Bookshop.