MY LAST CRUISE. Where We Went and What We Saw: Being An Account of Visits to the

Philadelphia 1878, Lippincott. Blue cloth, very good, 507p., 28 b.w. steel plates and woodcuts, a few old library stamps, covers gold stamped pictorial, corners, head/tail of spine a bit worn, contents solid, with NUDE BATHING PLATE. An important primary resource, performed just one year after Commodore Perry's historic opening of Japan to the world. Interspersed with amusing incidents and exciting adventures. * Also with commentary on the Ainu of Hokkaido. This is an excellent primary source, covering their expedition of exploration. * Arrival in Japan, the Russians & "How they used Commodore Perry's treaty to swindle us." * JAPANESE NUDE BATHING: Some comments about the Japanese baths and bathing in Japan, with a famous NUDE BATH SCENE showing a community public bath with both nude men and women with the American crew looking on ! * A great work loaded with unusual commentaries on Japan & the Japanese people, land and the "Hairy Ainu of the Kuriles." * THE AINU: A very unique and early reference resource. The author was a Lt. a surveyor in the U.S. Navy who surveyed the North Pacific. * Handsomely illustrated with a profusion of steel engraved plates and numerous woodcuts. A fabulous early American account of the area, with keen insights to the people, culture and customs. *** With a stunning litho of an execution in Canton. *** WHO WAS THE AUTHOR: Habersham [1826-1883] was acting Lieutenant during a surveying mission of the China Seas. He was later assigned to the Powhatan and became famous for being the first American to import Japanese tea to the U.S.A. Habersham's narrative and the illustrations are of a very personal nature: among the plates is a wonderful rendition of "women admiring a watch" & the nude "Bathing scene" far more lewd that the infamous Perry nude bathing scene. *** * Issued in various dates & cloth color variants. * BIBLIOIGRAPHPY: H. Cordier: JAPONICA 516 * Hill 437. * .