THE ORIENTAL VOYAGER; Or, Descriptive Sketches and Cursory Remarks, on a Voyage to India and China, in His Majesty's Ship Caroline, performed in the years 1803-4-5-6.

First edition. 8vo. Modern half calf over marbled boards, the spine with five raised bands, compartments ruled in gilt, repeating gilt ship device, and black morocco title label lettered in gilt. Page edges untrimmed. Illustrated with a folding map and a folding table. The contents are entirely complete, although with two gatherings bound out of order. Contemporary ownership inscription in black ink to the title page "Donald Campbell / Lieut. R. Marines / H.M. Ship Minden / off Junkxelon[?] / Augst. 31st 1814", with additional ownership inscriptions by Campbell stating his rank/name/ship scattered throughout. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a touch of rubbing to the extremities. The contents with a little toning to page margins, two neatly repaired chips to two blank page margins, a red ownership stamp to the rear endpaper, and the map strengthened by being covered recto and verso with Japanese tissue, are otherwise in very good order throughout.

The account of Irish-born surgeon James Johnson's (1777-1845) travels in China, India, and the East Indies, along with descriptions of his experiences during his other expeditions in Asia and North Africa. As Johnson states in the preface, the "sole object" of his work "is, to furnish the young voyager with an agreeable and useful companion on his first visits to the oriental world". The two folding plates provide a map and a chart detailing the paths and co-ordinates of the ships Caroline and Medusa. The owner of the present copy was Lieutenant (later Rear Admiral) Douglas Campbell (1778-1856) of the Royal Marines, who inscribed the work whilst onboard HMS Minden, when stationed off the coast of Jakarta en route to Madras. Born in Auchendoun, Argyll, Campbell joined the Royal Navy in 1791, serving during the Napoleonic Wars. By 1805 he was in command of the schooner HMS Tobago, and went on to command numerous vessels in both the West and East Indies. The present work - a sailor's cornucopia, containing a wide variety of information on the geography and natural history of Eastern nations, as well as the cultures, customs and diets of their peoples - was carried by Campbell as he served aboard the HMS Minden. Launched from Bombay in June 1810, the Minden took part in the successful invasion of Java in 1811, subsequently serving as an escort for convoys headed from Britain to the East Indies, the Cape of Good Hope, South America, and the coast of Africa. In 1813, the Minden also served as the flagship of Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, Commander in Chief of the East Indies Station, and later formed part of the Anglo-Dutch fleet during the Bombardment of Algiers of August 1816, which sought to end the slavery practices of the state. A nice association copy, taken to sea by a fellow sailor and used to navigate a variety of unfamiliar lands.