Details
A Voyage of Discovery
John Ross, 1819
ROSS, 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

First edition, untrimmed in contemporary boards, of "a famous, even notorious, voyage," with some of the plates hand-colored (Hill). Led by Sir John Ross, the officers on this journey in search of the Northwest passage included future Arctic greats William Parry, Edward Sabine, and his own nephew James Clark Ross. While the voyage produced much important geographic and anthropological knowledge, a mirage led Ross to describe a non-existent mountain range in the Lancaster sound and mired him in controversy upon the publication of this work. The charming plates, many of which were engraved by by the Havells after drawings by Ross and other members of the crew, depict icebergs, polar bears, sled dogs, and the striking Arctic landscape. Abbey Travel 634; Hill 1488; Sabin 7360.

Quarto (271 x 212mm). 3 folding maps; 25 engraved plates of which are 15 hand-colored and 7 folding; 3 engraved charts, 3 of which folding (last two folding plates dampstained, with some very faint marginal dampstains in the text, maps with some offsetting and browning). Contemporary boards (neatly rebacked, corners showing). Custom box. Provenance: very faint pencil inscription on title page.

Brought to you by

Christina Geiger
Christina Geiger Head of Department

More from The Private Collection of William S. Reese: Part Two

View All
View All