Commodore Mathew C. Perry "Japan Expedition" Slipcased Deluxe Limited Edition No. of 367 of 400

A magnificent reproduction of the stunning 1854 document that announced the historical opening of Japan to the West 

Easton Press, Norwalk CT. 2013. “Narrative Of The Expedition Of An American Squadron To The China Seas and Japan” by Francis L. Hawks under the command of Commodore Matthew C. Perry. Slipcased Deluxe Limited Edition. Luxuriously bound with genuine fine leather and stamped on the spine with 22kt gold. Limited to 400 Hand Numbered Copies with matching numbers certificate.

This is number 367 of 400.

This magnificent reproduction is Limited to just 400 hand-numbered copies, housed in a cloth slipcase with matching design. This extraordinary book re-creates the original first edition with all the 1854 illustrations.

This exclusive Easton Press Deluxe re-creation features:

1. All the original illustration from the historic 19th century edition
2. A spectacular two-color cover design created exclusively for this edition
3. A custom-crafted slipcase for storage and display 
4. Dimensions:  8 3/4" x 11 1/4"
5. 760pp

Features

• Leather-bound Edition
• Limited to 400 hand-numbered copies.
• 22kt gold deeply inlaid on the "hubbed" spine.
• Superbly printed on acid-neutral paper that lasts for generations.
• Sewn pages — not just glued like ordinary books.
• Handsome marbled end-pages and a satin-ribbon page marker.
• Printed and bound in the USA. Imported materials.
• Rigorous inspection at every stage ensures adherence to our exacting standards.
• Superb craftsmanship and commitment to quality.

Matthew C. Perry

Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He led the Perry Expedition that ended Japan's isolationism and signed the Convention of Kanagawa between Japan and the United States in 1854.

Perry was interested in the education of naval officers and assisted in the development of an apprentice system that helped establish the curriculum at the United States Naval Academy. With the advent of the steam engine, he became a leading advocate of modernizing the U.S. Navy and came to be considered "The Father of the Steam Navy" in the United States.

The journey

On November 24, 1852, Perry embarked from Norfolk, Virginia, for Japan, in command of the East India Squadron in pursuit of a Japanese trade treaty. He chose the paddle-wheeled steam frigate Mississippi as his flagship and made port calls at Madeira (December 11–15), Saint Helena (January 10–11), Cape Town (January 24 – February 3), Mauritius (February 18–28), Ceylon (March 10–15), Singapore (March 25–29), Macao and Hong Kong (April 7–28).

In Hong Kong he met with American-born Sinologist Samuel Wells Williams, who provided Chinese language translations of his official letters, and where he rendezvoused with Plymouth. He continued to Shanghai (May 4–17), where he met with the Dutch-born American diplomat, Anton L. C. Portman, who translated his official letters into the Dutch language, and where he rendezvoused with Susquehanna.

Perry then switched his flag to Susquehanna and made call at Naha on Great Lewchew Island (Ryukyu, now Okinawa) from May 17–26. Ignoring the claims of Satsuma Domain to the islands, he demanded an audience with the Ryukyuan King Shō Tai at Shuri Castle and secured promises that the Ryukyu Kingdom would be open to trade with the United States. Continuing on to the Ogasawara islands in mid-June, Perry met with the local inhabitants and purchased a plot of land.