Martin Sauer (fl. 1785-1806)
An account of a geographical and astronomical expedition to the northern parts of Russia ... by Commodore Joseph Billings in the years 1785, &c. to 1794. London: 1802.
Sir Francis Beaufort's copy of the first edition of ‘the fullest account of [Billings's] voyage’ presented to the Hydrographic Office. Martin Sauer was appointed as Private Secretary and Translator to the Russian expedition led by Captain Billings between 1785 and 1794; his narrative is ‘taken from the journal written for Captain Billings, which I copied from the ship's journal kept by the Master Batakoff and his mates’ (p.xiii). The book contains early mentions of mammoths as definitively extinct animals, following Georges Cuvier’s paleontological study, while the appendices provide vocabularies of the languages spoken in the areas visited, Catherine the Great's instructions to the crew and other material relating to the expedition.

After distinguished naval service, Beaufort was appointed Hydrographer to the Admiralty in 1829. 'For twenty-six years he presided over the hydrographic office with unwearied care, planning and directing surveys, guiding and encouraging the surveyors, correcting and publishing their charts. Although the public connects his name only with his wind scale, among seamen and especially hydrographers Beaufort's achievement is remembered with awe. More than one thousand charts were issued during his time; from 1835 to his retirement in 1855 the average was sixty-eight new charts a year' (ODNB). The Hydrographic Office stamp on the title-page suggests Beaufort presented this volume in December 1848. Brunet V 147-148; Cox I 353; Hill 1528; Howes S-117; Lada-Mocarski 58; Lowndes 2192; Sabin 77152.

Quarto (258 x 201mm). Engraved folding map of Bering’s Strait by S.J. Neele after A. Arrowsmith and 14 engraved ethnological plates and coastal profiles by J. Powell, R.H. Cromek, Neele, et al. after W. Alexander, list of engravings and errata at c1-2 (without half-title, folding map and plates lightly stained, plates X and XI trimmed at head just into plate number, variable soiling and marking). Modern half morocco.

Captain Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857, ink ownership inscription on title dated 1803, to:) – Hydrographic Office, Admiralty (manuscript inscription in red ink on title acknowledging presentation and with accession stamp on title dated 21 De[cember] [18]48) – Lt Cdr Andrew David (bookplate).

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