Lot 106

The 1855 U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 by Lieut. J.M. Gilliss Two Volumes w/ Fold-Outs, Illustrated FIRST EDITION

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 106
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6 image_7 image_8 image_9 image_10 image_11 image_12 image_13 image_14 image_15 image_16
The 1855 U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 by Lieut. J.M. Gilliss Two Volumes w/ Fold-Outs, Illustrated FIRST EDITION
The 1855 U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 by Lieut. J.M. Gilliss Two Volumes w/ Fold-Outs, Illustrated FIRST EDITION
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6 image_7 image_8 image_9 image_10 image_11 image_12 image_13 image_14 image_15 image_16

The 1855 U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 by Lieut. J.M. Gilliss Two Volumes w/ Fold-Outs, Illustrated FIRST EDITION

Current Bid: $100

(1 Bid)
by One Source Auctions
July 27, 2026 5:00 PM EDT
Live Auction
177 S. Main St.
Canandaigua, NY, US 14424

Published by A.O.P. Nicholson., Washington., 1855. The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849–'50–'51–'52 is a seminal multi-volume official government report published in 1855 by Washington printer A.O.P. Nicholson. Authored by Navy Lieutenant James Melville Gilliss, the document details the findings of America's third official naval scientific expedition. The core mission was observing Mars and Venus from different global points to measure the solar parallax and scale the solar system. Gilliss set up operations in Santiago, Chile, eventually building a foundation that became the Chilean National Observatory. Beyond astronomy, the crew collected massive amounts of geographic, meteorological, and natural history data. The published set stands out for its deep academic scope and beautiful production values, featuring tint lithographs, maps, and wood engravings: Volume I (Chile): Covers the nation's geography, climate, social structures, earthquakes, and minerals. It features a celebrated, hand-colored panoramic fold-out view from the summit of Santa Lucía. Volume II (Andes and Pampas): Records the rugged journeys across the Argentine provinces by assistant investigator Archibald MacRae. It catalogs local minerals, birds, and reptiles. Rare first-edition physical copies from 1855 trade between $250 and $2,800 depending on the condition and completeness of the folding maps. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request

  • Dimensions: 9.5" x 11.75"
  • Condition: Good - Very Good Condition with no missing pages.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship Worldwide, at Buyer's Expense. PLEASE CONTACT PRIOR TO BIDDING IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SHIPPING QUOTE!! Allow a 24 hour period for quotes. Shipping quotes are figured before invoices are sent out. Multiple shipping companies (USPS, UPS, Fedex, Greyhound, etc.) will be looked into for the best rate. Large paintings and other large items may be packed by a third party.

One Source Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 21% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $5
$100 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 + $500