Account of A Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island; with an Appendix Containing Charts, and Various Hydrographical and Scientific Notices.

First edition, presentation copy of Hall’s important early nineteenth-century travel narrative documenting his 1816 expedition, one of the first detailed Western accounts of Korea and the Ryukyu Islands then largely unknown to Europe. Quarto, bound in full contemporary polished calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, illustrated with 8 tissue-guarded aquatint plates with hand coloring by William Havell including frontispiece, one uncolored aquatint, 5 engraved maps (2 folding), and one engraved plate. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Viscountess Castlereagh From the Author." The recipient, Amelia Stewart, Viscountess Castlereagh (1772-1829), was the wife of Robert Stewart, better known as Viscount Castlereagh (later the 2nd Marquess of Londonderry), Britain's leading diplomat during the close of the Napoleonic Wars. As Foreign Secretary from 1812 until his death in 1822, Castlereagh was instrumental in forging the alliances that led to Napoleon’s defeat, demonstrating both strategic pragmatism and a commitment to maintaining a balance of power. His participation at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) marked the high point of his career, where he successfully defended Britain’s maritime and colonial interests while promoting a framework of collective security among the great powers. Although often criticized by contemporaries for his aloof manner and repressive domestic policies, historians have emphasized his diplomatic skill and long-term vision in establishing the Concert of Europe, a system that provided relative stability on the continent for nearly a century. In near fine condition. A very fine example in a stunning period binding and with noted provenance.