Franklin's First and Second Arctic Expeditions

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 ... [With:] Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1825, 1826, and 1827….

London: John Murray, 1823-1828.

Price: $4,500.00

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First editions of both the first and second expeditions. [First:] 4 folding maps, 30 plates (11 hand-colored and or printed in color). xvi, 768 pp. Half-title and errata slip present. Uncut. [Second:] 6 folding engraved maps (one colored in outline), and 31 steel-engraved plates by Finden after drawings by Captain Black. Uncut. 2 vols. 4to. Modern smooth tan panelled calf gilt. Abbey, Travel 635; Arctic Bib. 5194 and 5198; Field 560 and 561; Graff 1406 and 1407; Lande 1181 and 1182; Peel 80 and 88; Pilling 1326; Sabin 25624 and 25628; TPL 1248; Wagner-Camp 23:1 and 35:1.

Item #367082

In the first expedition, Franklin attempted to explore overland from Hudson's Bay to the mouth of the Coppermine River. Accompanied by John Richardson, George Back and others, the journey proved disastrous, survived by less than half of the original party. They did, however, manage to reach the Arctic Sea. "Franklin's narrative is of interest not only as a document of human courage and endurance, but also for its depiction of the Indians -- Cree, Dog-Rib and Chipewyan -- on whom the survival of the expedition at last depended" (Wagner-Camp). Two issues of the first edition are noted, the present being the first issue and here complete with the half title and errata slip (both frequently lacking)

The second volume prints Franklin's account of his second voyage, of 1825-27. The work is mainly devoted to the accounts of Richardson and Franklin in their explorations of the Mackenzie River region of the Canadian Northwest, although it contains a brief narrative of the explorations of Thomas Drummond in the Canadian Rockies. The plates, which are fine engravings by Finden after drawings and sketches by Lieut. Kendall and Capt. Back, depict the Mackenzie Basin and the Arctic Ocean. The handsome maps include "Route of the Expedition A.D. 1825, from Fort William to the Saskatchewan River...," "Route of the Expedition from York Factory to Cumberland House...in 1819 & 1820," "Route of the Expedition from Isle a la Crosse to Fort Providence, in 1819 & 1820," "Route of the Land Arctic Expedition...from Great Slave Lake to Great Bear Lake River...," and "The Discoveries of the Expedition...Near the mouth of the Mackenzie River, and on the Sea Coast East & West...."

A lovely uniformly-bound set.