Volume IV, 1, offered to the reader, is the most complete publication of archival materials covering the initial stage of the Second Kamchatka Expedition to date. Chronologically, the book covers, firstly, the period of development of plans between the end of the First Kamchatka Expedition in 1730 and the beginning of the Second Kamchatka Expedition in 1733; secondly, the immediate beginning of the Second Kamchatka expedition itself until the turn of 17331734.