Printing Matrices for "Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition"

In 1836 the U.S. Congress authorized President Andrew Jackson "to send out a surveying and exploring expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas." The U.S. Exploring Expedition's Narrative . . . (Vols. I-V) was written to follow the path of the three-year and ten-month expedition (1838–1842), which traveled from Norfolk, Virginia, east to the islands off the coast of Portugal, around the tip of South America to Antarctica, and then up the west coast of South America. During the rest of the expedition, either Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, the commander, or parts of his squadron traveled to Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific islands, the Philippines, Singapore, Hawaii, and North America's West Coast. Expedition members included scientists and artists who illustrated the people encountered, the narrative scenery, the cartographic studies, and the specimens collected.

The five Narrative volumes were published in 1844. Of the accompanying scientific volumes VI–XXIV, fourteen were published between 1844 and 1874. The remaining five were never officially distributed.

The printing matrices—either engraved plates and blocks or lithographic stones—used to print the Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition and its accompanying volumes are housed in the Graphic Arts Collection of the National Museum of American History. This collection includes 309 engraved wood blocks, 133 engraved copper and steel-faced plates, with an additional presentation card plate, and 19 lithographic stones.

 

Date: 1850s

Crossostylis biflora

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Crossostylis biflora" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 77, in the edition Philadelphia : C.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Crossostylis biflora" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 77, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman & Son, 1856. The plate images were engraved by W. H. Dougal after Issac Sprague.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1856
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Sprague, Isaac
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
editor
Drayton, Joseph
printer
C. Sherman and Son
author
Gray, Asa
ID Number
1999.0145.430
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.430

standing man with rifle

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The image shows a standing man with a rifle.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845-56
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.304
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.304

Physics

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 24, Physics.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 24, Physics. The image depicts a retangles with a globe and longitude and latitude lines and four tangent lines across the globe. The volume was never published.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1857
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Wilkes, Charles
graphic artist
Wilkes, Charles
printer
C. Sherman and Son
ID Number
1999.0145.441
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.441

Lagenorhynehus lateralis, Delphinus borealis (now Stenella coeruleoalba - striped dolphin and lissodelphis - northern right whale)

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Lagenorhynehus lateralis, Delphinus borealis" (now Stenella coeruleoalba - striped dophin and lissodelphis - northern right whale) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839,
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Lagenorhynehus lateralis, Delphinus borealis" (now Stenella coeruleoalba - striped dophin and lissodelphis - northern right whale) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, Atlas, Plate 7, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by W. H. Dougal after T. R. Peale.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.404
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.404

map part

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is not marked. The image show part of a map.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845-56
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.292
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.292

map part

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is not marked. The image shows a part of a map, which reads: "Evening Lat. 35 degreees south...."
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.291
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.291

Chart of the Viti Group or Feejee Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex. 1840

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Chart of the Viti Group or Feejee Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Chart of the Viti Group or Feejee Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex. 1840" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 10, Geology (text), following page 336, in the edition New York : Geo. P. Putnam, 1849. The engraving was produced by Edward Yeager.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
graphic artist
Yeager, Edw.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Dana, James Dwight
ID Number
1999.0145.423
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.423

decorated canoe

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is not marked. Image shows a decorated canoe. The block was proofed.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845-56
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.297
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.297

map part

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block was prepared to print part of a map that included the wording "Morning Lat. 30 degrees north...." The block was proofed.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845-56
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.298
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.298

Feejee Mbure

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, Volume 1," 1844.
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, Volume 1," 1844. The image titled "Feejee Mbure" (see 1999.0145.355) produced as a plate engraving was likely used in its place to describe the same scene. The image was drawn by Joseph Drayton and engraved by an unknown artist.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Drayton, Joseph
engraver
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.285
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.285

Carpophaga latrans (now Ducula latrans - Peale's imperial pigeon)

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga latrans" (now Ducula latrans - Peale's Imperial Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 2
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga latrans" (now Ducula latrans - Peale's Imperial Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 26, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by W. H. Dougal after T. R. Peale.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.409
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.409

Chain Gang

This engraved wood block may have been prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes. It shows standing men.
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block may have been prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes. It shows standing men. The block is marked "Chain Gang."
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.308
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.308

Cathartes jota, Molina (now Cathartes aura jota - Turkey vulture)

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Cathartes jota, Molina" (now Cathartes aura jota - Turkey Vulture) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 1
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Cathartes jota, Molina" (now Cathartes aura jota - Turkey Vulture) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 1, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by W. H. Dougal after G. G. White.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
White, G. G.
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.405
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.405

semi-circular line with base line

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is not marked. The image shows a semi-circular line with a base line.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.290
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.290

oxen yoke

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image of an oxen yoke was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image of an oxen yoke was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is marked "Brightlys." Joseph H. Brightly was an engraver who contributed other engravings to the publication. The block was proofed.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
Brightly, J. H.
original artist
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.288
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.288

De Fuca's Pillar

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The block is not marked but resembles block engraving "De Fuca's Pillar," (Volume 4, page 496), so may have been replaced by that engraving. The block was proofed. The plate is not a holding of the Graphic Arts Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845-56
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.294
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.294

Physics

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 24, Physics. The image depicts retangles of stars and cosmic shapes, and their coordinates (degrees).
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 24, Physics. The image depicts retangles of stars and cosmic shapes, and their coordinates (degrees). The volume was never published.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1857
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Wilkes, Charles
graphic artist
Wilkes, Charles
printer
C. Sherman and Son
ID Number
1999.0145.440
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.440

Engraved printing plate "Pleiodus strigirostris"

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Pleiodus strigirostris" (now Didunculus strigirostris - Tooth-billed Pigeon or Samoan Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalo
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Pleiodus strigirostris" (now Didunculus strigirostris - Tooth-billed Pigeon or Samoan Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 34, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by W. H. Dougal after T. R. Peale.
Description
William H. Dougal (1822–1895) of New York and Washington, D.C., (after 1844) engraved this copper printing plate after a drawing by Expedition Naturalist Titian Ramsey Peale. The image depicts the Pleiodus strigirostris (now Didunculus strigirostris, Tooth billed pigeon or Samoan Pigeon). The engraved illustration was published as Plate 34 in Volume VIII, Mammalogy and Ornithology, by John Cassin, 1858.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
publisher
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Sherman, Conger
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.414
catalog number
1999.0145.414
accession number
1999.0145

Streptodesmia canescens

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Streptodesmia canescens" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 47, in the edition Philadelphia : C.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Streptodesmia canescens" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 47, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman & Son, 1856. The plate images were engraved by W. H. Dougal after Issac Sprague.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1856
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Sprague, Isaac
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
C. Sherman and Son
author
Gray, Asa
ID Number
1999.0145.428
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.428

Carpophaga Wilkesii (now Ducula aurorae - Polynesian imperial pigeon)

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga Wilkesii" (now Ducula aurorae - Polynesian imperial pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, pla
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga Wilkesii" (now Ducula aurorae - Polynesian imperial pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 25, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by Hinshelwood after T. R. Peale.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Hinshelwood, Robert
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.408
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.408

Sicyos pachycarpus

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Sicyos pachycarpus" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 80, in the edition Philadelphia : C.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Sicyos pachycarpus" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 15, Botany - Panerogamia - Atlas, Plate 80, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman & Son, 1856. The plate images were engraved by W. H. Dougal after Issac Sprague.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1856
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Sprague, Isaac
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
C. Sherman and Son
author
Gray, Asa
ID Number
1999.0145.432
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.432

Ptilonopus purpuratus (now Grey Green Fruit Dove, Ptilonopus purpuratus (Society Islands))

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Ptilononpus purpuratus" (now Grey Green Fruit Dove, Ptilonopus purpuratus (Society Islands)) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalog
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Ptilononpus purpuratus" (now Grey Green Fruit Dove, Ptilonopus purpuratus (Society Islands)) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 30, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by J. Rolph after T. R. Peale.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Rolph, J.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.412
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.412

Carpophaga bicolor (now Ducula bicolor - Pied imperial pigeon)

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga bicolor" (now Ducula bicolor - Pied Imperial Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 28,
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Carpophaga bicolor" (now Ducula bicolor - Pied Imperial Pigeon) for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 8, Mammalogy and Ornithology, plate 28, in the edition Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. The engraving was produced by W. G. Newton after T. R. Peale.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1858
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Peale, Titian Ramsay
graphic artist
Newton, W.G.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Cassin, John
ID Number
1999.0145.410
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.410

geometrical rendition of world

This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and
Description (Brief)
This engraved wood block was likely prepared to print an image in the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842." The image was not published with any of the expedition volumes but is of the same style and subject as images in that publication. The image shows a geometical rendition of the world.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
1845-56
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
engraver
unknown
illustrator
unknown
ID Number
1999.0145.307
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.307

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