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.

 

This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map Illustrative of the Currents and Whaling-Grounds by U.S. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map Illustrative of the Currents and Whaling-Grounds by U.S. Ex. Ex." for the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," 1844, Volume 5, page 485, in the edition Philadelphia : Lea and Blanchard, 1845. The engraving was produced by Sherman and Smith.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
graphic artist
Sherman and Smith
publisher
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.398
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.398
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of Part of the Island of Hawaii Sandwich Islands Shewing the Craters and Eruption of May and June 1841 by the U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of Part of the Island of Hawaii Sandwich Islands Shewing the Craters and Eruption of May and June 1841 by the U.S. Ex. Ex. 1841" for the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," 1844, Volume 4, preceding page 111, in the edition Philadelphia : Lea and Blanchard, 1845. The engraving was produced by J. Duthie after Charles Wilkes.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
Wilkes, Charles
printer
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.400
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.400
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "A Chart Representing the Isles of the South Sea, According to the Notions of the Inhabitants of O-Tahettee and the Neighboring Isles, Chiefly Collected from the Accounts of Tupaya" for the publication "United States
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "A Chart Representing the Isles of the South Sea, According to the Notions of the Inhabitants of O-Tahettee and the Neighboring Isles, Chiefly Collected from the Accounts of Tupaya" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 6, preceding page 123, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 1846. The engraving was produced by Edward Yeager.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1846
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
graphic artist
Yeager, E.
printer
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.402
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.402
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
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Diagram of a Section of the Survey of the Columbia River by the U.S. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Diagram of a Section of the Survey of the Columbia River by the U.S. Ex. Ex." for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 23, Hydrography, following page 6, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman , 1861. The engraving was prepared by W. H. Dougal.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Wilkes, Charles
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Wilkes, Charles
Maker
Gaskill
ID Number
1999.0145.438
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.438
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Geographical Distribution of the Races of Men" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 9, "The Races of Men: and their Geographical Distribution
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Geographical Distribution of the Races of Men" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 9, "The Races of Men: and their Geographical Distribution," following page 12 in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman , 1848.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1849
1848
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
author
Pickering, Charles
printer
Sherman, C.
graphic artist
Tappan, E.
ID Number
1999.0145.461
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.461
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the Hawaiian Group of Sandwich Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the Hawaiian Group of Sandwich Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex. 1841" for the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," 1844, Volume 4, frontispiece, in the edition Philadelphia : Lea and Blanchard, 1845. The engraving was produced by W. H. Dougal after an unknown artist.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.368
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.368
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Isocrymal Chart to Illustrate the Geographical Distribution of Marine Animals by James D.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print the image "Isocrymal Chart to Illustrate the Geographical Distribution of Marine Animals by James D. Dana" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 14, Crustacea, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 1853.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1856
1852
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Dana, James Dwight
graphic artist
unknown
printer
C. Sherman and Son
author
Wilkes, Charles
ID Number
1999.0145.425
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.425
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the World Showing the Tracks of the U.S.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the World Showing the Tracks of the U.S. Exploring Expedition in 1838.39.40.41.42" for the publication "The Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," 1844, Volume 1, frontispiece, in the edition Philadelphia : Lea and Blanchard, 1845. The engraving was produced by Edward Yeager.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1845
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
unknown
graphic artist
Yeager, Edw.
printer
Sherman, C.
publisher
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.399
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.399
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the World Showing The Extent and Direction of the Wind and the Route to be Folloed in a Circumnavigation of the Globe" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map of the World Showing The Extent and Direction of the Wind and the Route to be Folloed in a Circumnavigation of the Globe" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 23, Hydrography," in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman , 1851. The engraving was prepared by W. H. Dougal after F. D. Stuart.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1849
1861
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
author
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Stuart, F. D.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
printer
Sherman, C.
maker
Rock, William B.
ID Number
1999.0145.460
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.460
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map Exhibiting Areas of Temperature of the Ocean and the Isotheral and Isocheimal curves to the Continents by the U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Map Exhibiting Areas of Temperature of the Ocean and the Isotheral and Isocheimal curves to the Continents by the U.S. Ex. Ex. 1850" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 11, Meteorology, frontispiece, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman , 1851.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1851
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Wilkes, Charles
graphic artist
unknown
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Wilkes, Charles
ID Number
1999.0145.424
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.424
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Chart of Oceanic Migration by H. Hale. U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Chart of Oceanic Migration by H. Hale. U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838.39.40.41&42" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 6, preceding page 1, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 1846. The engraving was produced by the firm Sherman and Smith.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1846
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Hale, H.
graphic artist
Sherman and Smith
printer
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.401
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.401
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Diagram of a Triangulation of the Yiti Group or Feejee Islands by the U.S. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Diagram of a Triangulation of the Yiti Group or Feejee Islands by the U.S. Ex. Ex." for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 23, Hydrography, preceding page 7, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman , 1861. The engraving was prepared by W. H. Dougal.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
original artist
Wilkes, Charles
graphic artist
Dougal, W. H.
printer
Sherman, C.
author
Wilkes, Charles
ID Number
1999.0145.439
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.439
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Ethnographical Map of Oregon Showing the Limits of the Tribes and their Affinities by Language. By H. Hale. U.S. Ex. Ex.
Description (Brief)
This engraved printing plate was prepared to print an image of "Ethnographical Map of Oregon Showing the Limits of the Tribes and their Affinities by Language. By H. Hale. U.S. Ex. Ex. 1841" for the publication "United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," Volume 6, preceding page 197, in the edition Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 1846. The engraving was produced by the firm Sherman and Smith.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1846
Associated Name
Wilkes, Charles
author
Hale, Horatio
graphic artist
Sherman and Smith
printer
Sherman, C.
Maker
Lea & Blanchard
ID Number
1999.0145.403
accession number
1999.0145
catalog number
1999.0145.403

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