Details
ROSS, Sir John (1777-1856). A Voyage of Discovery, Made Under the Orders of the Admiralty in His Majesty's Ships Isabella and Alexander, for the Purpose of Exploring Baffin's Bay, and Inquiring into the Probability of a North-West Passage. London: John Murray, 1819.
4o (275 x 212 mm). 32 maps and engraved plates after J. Ross, A.M. Skene, H.P. Hoppner, J. Sackheouse, D. Havell, J. Bushnan and T. Lewin by D. Havell, R. Havell & Son and J. Walker, some folding and colored. (Plate of Westonholme Sound with chips at edge, a few leaves with margins renewed, some occasional pale spotting and soiling.) Contemporary half calf, marbled boards (new endpapers, light wear at extremities).
FIRST EDITION OF ROSS'S NOTORIOUS VOYAGE. Attempting to proceed westward through Lancaster Sound, Ross was deceived, presumably by a mirage, and described the passage as blocked by a range of mountains. He names these non-existent peaks the Croker Mountains. His crew, which included explorers of future fame William Edward Parry, James Clark Ross and Edward Sabine, did not believe Ross's conclusion, nor did the British Admiralty. His refusal to sail westward opened a life-long quarrel between him and Sir John Barrow, Secretary of the Admiralty. Abbey Travel 634; Arctic Bibliography 14873; Field 1320; Hill p.261; Lande 1425; NMM 818; Sabin 73376; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 1152.
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FIRST EDITION OF ROSS'S NOTORIOUS VOYAGE. Attempting to proceed westward through Lancaster Sound, Ross was deceived, presumably by a mirage, and described the passage as blocked by a range of mountains. He names these non-existent peaks the Croker Mountains. His crew, which included explorers of future fame William Edward Parry, James Clark Ross and Edward Sabine, did not believe Ross's conclusion, nor did the British Admiralty. His refusal to sail westward opened a life-long quarrel between him and Sir John Barrow, Secretary of the Admiralty. Abbey Travel 634; Arctic Bibliography 14873; Field 1320; Hill p.261; Lande 1425; NMM 818; Sabin 73376; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 1152.