![BERKH, Vasilii Nikolaevich (1781-1835). Khronologicheskaia istoriia vsekh puteshestvii v severnyia poliarnyia strany. [A Chronological History of all Voyages in Northern Polar Lands.] St. Petersburg: at the War Press of His Imperial Majesty’s Headquarters, 1821-1823.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/NYR/2017_NYR_15724_0059_000(berkh_vasilii_nikolaevich_khronologicheskaia_istoriia_vsekh_puteshestv052716).jpg?w=1)
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BERKH, Vasilii Nikolaevich (1781-1835). Khronologicheskaia istoriia vsekh puteshestvii v severnyia poliarnyia strany. [A Chronological History of all Voyages in Northern Polar Lands.] St. Petersburg: at the War Press of His Imperial Majesty’s Headquarters, 1821-1823.
The rare first edition of this systematic review of all generally known voyages to the Arctic between 1492 and 1821, from both the Atlantic and the Pacific approaches. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction. Some of the voyages summarized here were not published separately in book form, and are otherwise only available in the pages of Russian periodicals. The plates include arctic fauna, and a typology of different types of snowflakes accompanied by a table of meteorological data associated with each type. Some copies are known with a printed dedication to Rumiantsev which was evidently tipped-in post facto; those copies are described with 18 preliminary pages (i.e. nine leaves) instead of 16 as expected. Howes B-376; Lada-Mocarski 81; Tourville 529; Wickersham 6319.
Two volumes in one, octavo (224 x138mm). 2 folding engraved maps and 12 plates, mostly lithographed (title slightly short; maps re-hinged, one of them repaired in the inside margin; some plate numbers shaved by the binder). 19th-century Russian half calf, the spine flat and gilt in compartments (rebacked with the original spine; corners repaired; endpapers renewed). Provenance: Wayfarer’s Bookshop.
The rare first edition of this systematic review of all generally known voyages to the Arctic between 1492 and 1821, from both the Atlantic and the Pacific approaches. RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction. Some of the voyages summarized here were not published separately in book form, and are otherwise only available in the pages of Russian periodicals. The plates include arctic fauna, and a typology of different types of snowflakes accompanied by a table of meteorological data associated with each type. Some copies are known with a printed dedication to Rumiantsev which was evidently tipped-in post facto; those copies are described with 18 preliminary pages (i.e. nine leaves) instead of 16 as expected. Howes B-376; Lada-Mocarski 81; Tourville 529; Wickersham 6319.
Two volumes in one, octavo (224 x138mm). 2 folding engraved maps and 12 plates, mostly lithographed (title slightly short; maps re-hinged, one of them repaired in the inside margin; some plate numbers shaved by the binder). 19th-century Russian half calf, the spine flat and gilt in compartments (rebacked with the original spine; corners repaired; endpapers renewed). Provenance: Wayfarer’s Bookshop.