Commodore Matthew C. Perry "Expedition to Japan" Easton Press Deluxe Limited Edition of 800, Wooden Display Chest

A magnificent reproduction of the 1856 edition of Commodore Matthew Perry’s report to Congress presented in a deluxe wooden Display Chest. Limited Edition of only 800 hand-numbered copies.

Easton Press, Norwalk CT. 2023. “Expedition to Japan” by Matthew C. Perry. Deluxe Limited Edition. Luxuriously bound with genuine fine leather and stamped on the spine with 22kt gold. Limited to 800 Hand Numbered Copies. Book measures 8 5/8” x 11 1/4” and 744 pages. Chest is 14" Long x 13 1/2" Deep x 4 1/2" Height.

Easton Press is pleased to present a publishing first — an extraordinary reproduction of the stunning document that announced the historic opening of Japan to the West presented in a deluxe wooden Display Chest. Narrative on the Expedition of an American Squadron to the South China Seas and Japan is Commodore Matthew Perry’s report submitted to Congress in 1856 detailing his expedition to Asia.

This remarkable reproduction features a custom crafted wooden Display Chest, a vintage brass compass replicated from a 1850’s design and a stunning 23kt gold-plated bookmark with a map of Japan and a black tassel.

Features

• Leather-bound 7-piece set.
• Limited to 800 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.
• Includes a custom-creafted wooden Display Chest.
• Handsome marbled endpages 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.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853-1854 was a pivotal event that forced Japan to end its self-imposed isolation and open its ports to Western trade. This resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa, which paved the way for further diplomatic relations and trade agreements between Japan and the West.

Key aspects of the expedition:

Purpose: President Millard Fillmore dispatched Perry to Japan to secure trade access and establish diplomatic relations, potentially using "gunboat diplomacy" if necessary.

Arrival: Perry's fleet, including the Susquehanna, Mississippi, Plymouth, and Saratoga, arrived in Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay) in 1853.

Initial Reaction: The Japanese were initially wary of the "black ships" and their powerful cannons, but Perry successfully communicated the U.S. demand for diplomatic engagement.

Treaty of Kanagawa: In 1854, Japan agreed to the treaty, which opened two ports (Shimoda and Hakodate) for refueling and provisioning American ships, protecting shipwrecked American sailors, and allowing the appointment of U.S. consuls in these ports.

Impact: The Perry Expedition led to significant changes in Japan's policies, including the end of its isolationist era and the beginning of modernization and engagement with the West.

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.