Beschreibung:

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN (1786-1847) Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 . London: William Clowes for John Murray 1823. 30 plates after Hood, Curtis and Back by E. Finden and Curtis (18 uncoloured engravings, 3 hand-coloured engravings, 9 hand-coloured aquatints), 4 folding engraved maps (1 hand-coloured in outline). (Spotting to most maps and plates, offsetting to most text adjacent to the plates or maps, 2 of the maps with old creasing.) Abbey Travel II.635; Arctic Bibliography 5194; Field 560; Hill (2004) 635 Lande 1181; NMM 827; Sabin 25624; Staton & Tremaine 1248. [ With :] J.FRANKLIN. Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1825, 1826, and 1827 ... Including an account of the progress of a detachment to the eastward, by John Richardson London: William Clowes for John Murray 1828. 1p.errata at back. 31 uncoloured engraved plates after Back and Kendall by E. Finden, 6 folding engraved maps (1 hand-coloured in outline). (Some spotting and offsetting, light soiling to three maps, one map with small marginal tears.) Abbey Travel I,635; Arctic Bibliography 5194; Field 561; Hill (2004) 636; Lande 1182; NMM 843; Sabin 26228; Staton & Tremaine 1434. 2 works in 2 volumes, 4° (277x 216mm). Uniform contemporary calf gilt by Charles Lewis covers with triple fillet border in gilt, spines in six compartments with raised bands, light brown/ochre morocco lettering-piece in the second compartment, the others with elaborate overall repeat decoration in gilt made up from various small tools surrounding a large central flowerspray, cornerpieces of stylised foliage, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, marbled edges, partially erased ink inscriptions (noting the works are 'bd. by C. Lewis') on front free endpapers (some scuffing to spines). FINE COPIES OF THE FIRST EDITIONS OF THE DESCRIPTIONS OF FRANKLIN'S OVERLAND EXPEDITIONS. 'The first journey was made to the mouth of the Coppermine River ... The distance traveled was some 5,500 miles, and Franklin's narrative at once became a classic of travel literature' (Hill). The second expedition consisted of two main journeys: Franklin traced the North American coast from the Mackenzie River to longitude 149° 37' W, whilst Richardson's party 'explored the coast between the Mackenzie River and the Coppermine [River]. The two ... added 1,200 miles of coast line to the knowledge od the American continent ... The views of Arctic scenery in this work are noted for their beauty.' (Hill). Field acknowledges the great ethnographic interest in the work: '"Dr. Richardson's Account of the Cree Indians" is one of the best, and certainly the most authentic statement of their peculiar customs and modes of life.' (2)