Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22.
London. John Murray. 1823. 4to., 27.5cm, The First Edition, second issue, xv,[1],783,[l]p., with 31 engraved plates (12 hand coloured), and 4 folding maps, in full tan calf, blind decorated wide raised bands, ornate borders and panels decorated with similar borders on the boards and in the spine panels, wide full gilt decorated inner dentelles, all edges gilt, some slight offsetting from the plates but less than usual, a terrific clean copy in attractive period binding, with the extra coloured plate from Richardson's Flora Boreali-Americana, which is not in the first issue. (cgc). Item #40353
Small engraved bookplate, William Barneby, and "Ex Lib, J. Russell Harper" in pencil on the front endpaper. Lande 1181. T.P.L 7092. Sabin 25624. vide WCB-23:1. Field 560. Graff 1406. Peel (3)-151, and Arctic Biblilo. 5194. (all 1st issues). This issue (we use the term advisedly, as the type has been reset, to distinguish it from the official 'Second Edition) differs from the first issue in that it includes an extra coloured plate from Richardson's Flora Boreali-Americana," there is additional material added to the introduction; many of the errata have been corrected; the plates have been newly-engraved; there are major additions to the final botanical appendix; the maps are dated November 1823 rather than March 1823; and the map of the Connected Discoveries has been enlarged to include territory south of Hudson's Strait which is not in the earlier map. The object of the expedition was, in part, to determine the longitude and latitude of the northern coast of North America. It is the story of the most frightful journey of 5500 miles in the north, told in detail. The members of the expedition travelled both overland and by canoe; the party was decimated by murder, hunger and cold.
Price: $3,200.00