A Cruise in Japanese Waters -
Captain Sherard Osborn C.B.
1859 - William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh & London - First Edition
A fine and thus rare first edition of this highly entertaining and observant account by Captain Sherard Osborn, one of the most distinguished and capable British naval officers of the period, who accompanied Lord Elgin’s diplomatic mission to Japan in 1858. The narrative begins with Osborn’s enthusiastic departure from Tientsin (Tianjin) back to open seas, following the conclusion of a major treaty with China. As the Royal Navy ships sail toward Japan, Osborn provides detailed professional observations on navigation in then-unfamiliar waters, while contrasting the "squalor" he perceived in China with the highly developed and orderly culture he encountered upon arriving in the Japanese archipelago.
Osborn’s account captures a pivotal moment when Japan was just beginning to open its borders to Western powers after centuries of isolation. He vividly describes key locations such as the Dutch settlement at Nagasaki, the aftermath of an earthquake at Shimoda, and the journey to Yedo (modern-day Tokyo). Throughout the book, Osborn expresses a deep fascination and respect for the Japanese people, praising their energy, cleanliness, and sophisticated manners. His writing blends practical maritime reporting with historical sketches, ranging from the story of William Adams, the first Englishman in Japan, to the early persecutions of Christians, offering a comprehensive look at a nation in transition. Rear-Admiral Sherard Osborn (1822-75) was a distinguished British naval officer and a leading figure in 19th-century Arctic exploration. After joining the Royal Navy in 1837, he saw significant action in the Opium Wars in China and the Crimean War, where his leadership of the Sea of Azov squadron earned him high honors. His career was marked by a blend of military grit and diplomatic complexity, most notably during the "Lay-Osborn Flotilla" incident, where he resigned from a command for the Chinese government rather than compromise his British naval principles.
Beyond his military service, Osborn is best remembered for his tireless efforts to locate the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin. He commanded steam-tenders during two major search missions in the early 1850s, pioneering long-distance sledge travel and mapping vast stretches of the Arctic archipelago. A prolific author and advocate for science, he documented his voyages in popular books like Stray Leaves from an Arctic Journal and spent his final years lobbying the government for the 1875 British Arctic Expedition, ensuring his legacy as a central architect of polar exploration.
Provenance: A. N. Dugdale, with their small bookplate to the front pastedown.
Reference: Cordier, Bibliotheca Japonica, 541.
Small octavo (book size 19.6x13.3cm), pp. vi 210, 16 (publisher’s catalogue). In publisher’s blind stamped green cloth, spine lettered, ruled and decorated in gilt, top edge tinted green, yellow coated endpapers. Condition: Fine with the exception of slight crease to outer edges of early pages. Ref: 112512 Price: HK$ 6,000
Osborn’s account captures a pivotal moment when Japan was just beginning to open its borders to Western powers after centuries of isolation. He vividly describes key locations such as the Dutch settlement at Nagasaki, the aftermath of an earthquake at Shimoda, and the journey to Yedo (modern-day Tokyo). Throughout the book, Osborn expresses a deep fascination and respect for the Japanese people, praising their energy, cleanliness, and sophisticated manners. His writing blends practical maritime reporting with historical sketches, ranging from the story of William Adams, the first Englishman in Japan, to the early persecutions of Christians, offering a comprehensive look at a nation in transition. Rear-Admiral Sherard Osborn (1822-75) was a distinguished British naval officer and a leading figure in 19th-century Arctic exploration. After joining the Royal Navy in 1837, he saw significant action in the Opium Wars in China and the Crimean War, where his leadership of the Sea of Azov squadron earned him high honors. His career was marked by a blend of military grit and diplomatic complexity, most notably during the "Lay-Osborn Flotilla" incident, where he resigned from a command for the Chinese government rather than compromise his British naval principles.
Beyond his military service, Osborn is best remembered for his tireless efforts to locate the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin. He commanded steam-tenders during two major search missions in the early 1850s, pioneering long-distance sledge travel and mapping vast stretches of the Arctic archipelago. A prolific author and advocate for science, he documented his voyages in popular books like Stray Leaves from an Arctic Journal and spent his final years lobbying the government for the 1875 British Arctic Expedition, ensuring his legacy as a central architect of polar exploration.
Provenance: A. N. Dugdale, with their small bookplate to the front pastedown.
Reference: Cordier, Bibliotheca Japonica, 541.
Small octavo (book size 19.6x13.3cm), pp. vi 210, 16 (publisher’s catalogue). In publisher’s blind stamped green cloth, spine lettered, ruled and decorated in gilt, top edge tinted green, yellow coated endpapers. Condition: Fine with the exception of slight crease to outer edges of early pages. Ref: 112512 Price: HK$ 6,000