An attractive, rebound copy of the 1855 Senate Executive Document No. 34 (33rd Congress, 2nd Session), titled "Message of the President of the United States, transmitting A report of the Secretary of the Navy... relative to the naval expedition to Japan."
This official government document contains the correspondence and reports regarding Commodore Matthew Perry's historic expedition to open Japan, submitted by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of the Navy J.C. Dobbin. It includes detailed sailing directions for Yedo (Tokyo) Bay and accounts of the diplomatic interactions leading to the Treaty of Kanagawa.
Details:
Date: January 31, 1855 (Ordered to be printed Feb 2, 1855).
Format: Rebound Hardcover.
Binding: Modern quarter binding with red spine, gilt lettering ("Pierce - Perry's Expedition to Japan - 1855"), and marbled paper boards.
Content: Correspondence, instructions, and sailing directions (Lieut. Maury).
Condition Report:
Binding: Excellent. The modern rebind is tight, clean, and visually striking.
Interior: Good. The text block shows age-appropriate foxing and toning throughout.
Markings: Small sticker residue on the front pastedown; small pencil/ink mark on the title page.
Collector's Note: A well-preserved primary source document pre-dating the official 3-volume Narrative (1856). The professional rebinding makes this an excellent display copy for collectors of US Naval history or Japanese-American relations.
Commodore Perry, Expedition to Japan, 1855, Senate Executive Document 34, Franklin Pierce, Treaty of Kanagawa, US Navy History, Bakumatsu, Black Ships, Opening of Japan, Rebound Rare Book, Americana, Diplomatic History, Sailing Directions Yedo.