Presentation Copy, Inscribed by Parry to one of his Officers

Journal of a second voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific; performed in the years 1821-22-23.

London: John Murray, 1824.

Price: $7,500.00


About the item

First edition. With 30 plates (4 folding) and 9 maps (4 folding). 1 vols. 4to. Presentation Copy, Inscribed by Parry to one of his Officers. Contemporary half tan calf and marbled boards, rebacked preserving gilt spine (some rubbing), modern endpapers, hinges reinforced with cloth, internally fine, crisp and attractive. Hill 225; Sabin 58864; TPL 1295; Field 1184.

Item #243456

Inscribed by Parry to one of his officers, "Lieut. J. Bushnan RN with the author's best regards." John Bushnan was the assistant surveyor on board the Fury. Bushnan was to have joined the Franklin expedition to the mouth of the Mackenzie River, but as Franklin wrote, "Lieut. Bushnan, who had served under Captains Ross and Parry, was appointed to accompany me but, long before the party was to leave England, I had to lament the death of that excellent young officer."

The account of Parry's second expedition, this time through Hudson Strait into Hudson Bay and beyond. The book is largely concerned with the aboriginal life of the Eskimos, and contains accounts of various scientific discoveries. In 1824-25 the indomitable Parry made a third, unsuccessful, voyage. In 1827 he set out in an attempt to reach the North Pole, setting a record for northernmost travel which stood until 1876. He was promoted to Admiral in 1852.

An excellent association copy of a classic, substantial work of Arctic exploration.