Letter to the Hon. John M. Clayton, Secretary of State, enclosing a paper, geographical, political, and commercial, on the independent oriental nations;

and submitting a plan for opening, extending, and protecting American commerce in the East, &c. Respectfully submitted to the President and Cabinet, by Aaron Haight Palmer, Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the U.S. Published by direction of the Department of State in the National Intelligence of the 6th September, 1849. Revised, and now published with an appendix. Washington : Gideon & Co., printers, 1849. Octavo (225 mm), recent half black calf; pp. 63 (self-wrappers); front wrapper browned, but a fine copy.

Lawyer and wealthy businessman Aaron Haight Palmer played a crucial role in developing the United States’ strategy for the opening up of Japan to commerce and trade, and is ‘frequently regarded as the instigator of Perry’s expedition [to Japan]’ (Hill, Pacific Voyages, 1286).

This published letter to Secretary of State Clayton deals not only with U.S.-Japan relations, but also America’s approach to trade with China.

Rare Book Hub records no copy at auction since 1945.

Not in Hill; not in Cordier