Narrative of the United States’ Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea – By William Francis Lynch, published by RICHARD BENTLEY London 1849. First Edition. Original leather binding.
The book is accompanied by 28 panels – illustrations of landscapes, sites and local figures – as well as two folded maps: a map of the Jordan River, and a map of the Dead Sea.
William Francis Lynch [1801-1865], an officer in the U.S. Navy. in 1847 set out on a research expedition to Jordan and the Dead Sea. His delegation was the first research expedition to study the southern part of the Dead Sea and Lynch was the first to draw an accurate and detailed map of the Dead Sea and the Jordan. The expedition arrived in two boats built especially for the voyage: a copper boat named “Fanny Mason” and an iron boat named “Fanny Skinner”. At the camp they set up, the delegation hoisted the United States flag, and according to Lynch, it was probably the first time the US flag had been hoisted in Eretz Israel, outside the American consulate.They sailed in the narrowest passage between the tongue and the coast of Masada. This passage is then called “Lynch Strait”. Some members of the delegation climbed to Masada. The delegation sailed from coast to coast as they passed through Zohar river, Bokek river, Mount Sdom and other places. Their measurements in the southern part showed that this part of the sea is very shallow. The expedition then returned to the northwestern part of the Dead Sea. The book includes 25 chapters. Each chapter is devoted to part of the journey, and includes various descriptions of the expedition’s experiences. At the beginning of the book, Lynch lists the names of all the members of the delegation, gives credit to each one for his work, and explains why he decided to embark on a journey. The woodcuts in the book painted by his deputy John Dale and one of the expedition members, depicting places, events and people who were involved in the journey.
XX, 13-508 pp. + [28] Tables + [2] maps. 23 cm. Original leather binding. Elevated spine straps. Stains. Good condition.
