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SCRUTATOR (pseud.). The Impracticability of a North-West Passage for Ships, Impartially Considered. London: A.J. Valpy, 1824.
The very rare first edition, written by a self-described "sea-faring man" and Northwest Passage skeptic. The anonymous author reviews reports of myriad expeditions, both publicly and privately funded, and concludes that there is simply too much ice for a practical passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ever to be found. The postscript was written a few days after the printing of his own text, upon the publication of Parry's second voyage. The author learns nothing to modify his tone of dismay, noting: "After carefully reading it, I cannot say that I have met with a single fact of sufficient weight to induce me to alter one line I had written...." Arctic Bib. 15644; Sabin 34407 ("no doubt printed for private circulation"); TPL 4883.
Octavo (222 x 138mm). Partially unopened (some browning with a few associated edge tears, first few leaves reinforced at edges). Contemporary half calf (rebacked with original spine preserved, endpapers renewed, front free endpapers starting). Provenance: Patrick McGahern Books.
The very rare first edition, written by a self-described "sea-faring man" and Northwest Passage skeptic. The anonymous author reviews reports of myriad expeditions, both publicly and privately funded, and concludes that there is simply too much ice for a practical passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ever to be found. The postscript was written a few days after the printing of his own text, upon the publication of Parry's second voyage. The author learns nothing to modify his tone of dismay, noting: "After carefully reading it, I cannot say that I have met with a single fact of sufficient weight to induce me to alter one line I had written...." Arctic Bib. 15644; Sabin 34407 ("no doubt printed for private circulation"); TPL 4883.
Octavo (222 x 138mm). Partially unopened (some browning with a few associated edge tears, first few leaves reinforced at edges). Contemporary half calf (rebacked with original spine preserved, endpapers renewed, front free endpapers starting). Provenance: Patrick McGahern Books.