Fine Books & Manuscripts

[ARCTIC]. ROSS, John (1777–1856). Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of North–West Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833…Including the Reports of Commander, now Captain, James Clark Ross… and the Discovery of the Northern Magnetic Pole. London: A.W. Webster, 1835. Volume I only (not including appendix volume which was issued separately by the publisher for an additional charge), 4to (273 x 216 mm). 14 steel engravings, 6 lithographs, 3 colored mezzotints, and 6 maps including 2 folding, errata (marginal foxing to plates, frontispiece and title–page dampstained near gutter). Contemporary half navy blue leather over marbled boards, 6 compartments with 5 raised bands gilt, gilt device centerpieces of Ross’s ship the Isabella in 5 compartments, red sheepskin lettering–piece gilt in second compartment, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers (light wear to joints with some separation to lower joint near foot, extremities a bit rubbed, front inner hinge gently cracked). Provenance: John W.G. Spicer (bookplate). FIRST EDITION. In 1829, Ross set out on his second expedition in the small paddle–steamer Victory with his nephew James Clark Ross who was second–in–command. The second voyage was much more successful than his first: “The expedition survived four winters in the Arctic, during which James Clark Ross discovered the North Magnetic Pole” (Hill). Abbey, Travel 636; Arctic Bibliography 14866; Hill 1490; Sabin 73381.