Narrative of the United States exploring expedition during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. By Charles Wilkes ... With illustrations and maps. In five volumes.Wilkes, Charles, 1798-1877.1845BEIN Zc74 +844wib copy 1: Vol. 2 has the variant printer statement on verso of t.p.By act of Congress, Aug. 26, 1842, the edition of the reports of the U.S. Exploring Expedition were limited to 100 copies. These have "By authority of Congress" on the half-title, and are referred to by Haskell as the "Official" issue. Wilkes, however, secured copyright on his Narrative on the expedition, and under the copyright privilege, brought out other editions between 1845 and 1856.In this edition, the Atlas is numbered "Vol. 6" on the spine; in the first edition, the Atlas bore no volume number.On verso of title page: Stereotyped by J. Fagan. Printed by C. Sherman.Reprint of the 'official' edition: Philadelphia : Printed by C. Sherman, 1844.text