New Zealand Its Physical Geography, Geology And Natural History. With special reference to the results of Government expeditions in the provinces of Auckland and Nelson

Here is a special and rare book, an iconic artefact for every important collector of early New Zealand research and writing...

In 1857 Hochstetter was appointed geologist to the scientific expedition of the Austrian naval frigate Novara. The expedition planned to circumnavigate the globe, displaying the Austrian flag, and carried eight scientists and assistants to undertake research. The Novara set out from Trieste on 30 April 1857, traversed the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro and then to Cape Town, and sailed via Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India and the Orient to Sydney, New South Wales. In Cape Town George Grey had encouraged the Novara's commodore, Bernhard von Wüllerstorf-Urbair, to visit Auckland, New Zealand, to allow scientific examination of the North Island volcanic regions.

The Novara arrived in Auckland on 22 December 1858, and Hochstetter soon met Julius Haast, another German, who had just arrived in New Zealand. Haast was to accompany Hochstetter on all his New Zealand journeys. The provincial government of Auckland asked Hochstetter to examine the Drury coalfield, and, impressed by his report, persuaded him to remain, to make extended geological surveys in Auckland and Nelson provinces, when the Novara sailed for home on 8 January 1859. 

 Author: Dr Ferdinand Von Hochstetter

Published by J. G. Gotta, Stuttgart, first edition, 1867, 515 pp. illus, including coloured frontis. 

Original blind stamped green cloth with embossed gilt oval to front board. Both folding maps intact and in excellent condition.  Copies such as this one, with both folding maps present are rare.

G+, Some foxing and slight watermarks, corners worn. But overall a lovely collectors copy.