BODEGA Y QUADRA – GAMBOA, Francisco Xavier de (1717-1794). Autograph letter signed ("Francesco de Gamboa") to the Marques de Montealegre, Mexico, 27 November 1775.

BODEGA Y QUADRA – GAMBOA, Francisco Xavier de (1717-1794). Autograph letter signed ("Francesco de Gamboa") to the Marques de Montealegre, Mexico, 27 November 1775. In Spanish, 3 pages, 301 x 212mm, bifolium. In a half vellum custom clamshell in box. Provenance: Voyager Press Rare Books and Manuscripts. A manuscript letter announcing the return of Juan Francisco Bodega y Quadra’s crew after a harrowing voyage to Alaska. In the course of this friendly note to the Marques de Montealegre, the Mexican lawyer Francisco Xavier Gamboa mentions the arrival of Bodega y Quadra in a small billander at the Spanish naval base in San Blas. Bodega y Quadra has sailed as far as Sitka, Alaska in search of Russian colonies—finding none, he claimed the rest of the Pacific coast for Spain. The expedition suffered from scurvy as well as attacks from Native Quinault people, but refused to turn back until the mission had been completed. The intelligence gathered allowed the Spanish the draw the first accurate maps of the Northwest coast of America. See also lot 56. See Howgego B114. [ With :] GUZMAN Y GUEVARA, José de, Marques de Montealegre (1709-1781). Draft letter, 21 April 1776. 3 pages, bifolium.