WILLS, William John (1834-1861). A Successful Exploration through the interior of Australia, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. From the Journals and Letters of William John Wills. London: Richard Bentley, 1863. 8vo (223 x 138 mm). Folding map, engraved frontispiece, engraved portrait. Publisher's green cloth gilt (recased with new endpapers, corners slightly bumped). FIRST EDITION, describing Burke's expedition for the government of Victoria, to cross the continent of Australia and reach its northwest shore. His expedition was among the most costly and tragic, and remains the most criticized, discussed and controversial, of all Australian explorations. Burke was inexperienced but Wills, his second-in-command, was a higly competent surveyor and explorer. Wills kept the only journal and record of the scientific and geographical details of the expedition. Both Wills and Burke perished on their return journey after becoming the first Europeans to cross the Australian continent from north to south. Ferguson 18622.