ROSS, James Clark, Sir (1800-1862). A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions, during the years 1839-43. London: John Murray, 1847.
2 volumes, 8vo. 8 lithographed maps (3 folding), 8 lithographed plates (one folding), numerous illustrations in the text. (Some spotting and marginal toning). Original blue-green pictorial cloth gilt (ends repaired, spines sunned, erasures of ownership signatures on pastedowns).
FIRST EDITION OF “ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS IN THE HISTORY OF ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION” (Hill). “The first [voyage] to enter what is known as the Ross Sea, the first to sight the Admiralty Mountains, the first to see Victoria Land, Ross Island, Mounts Erebus and Terror, and the Ross Ice Shelf, amongst other momentous discoveries. Once this account became public, no one could doubt there was a great southern continent of immense proportions to be explored” (Taurus Collection).
THE RARE FIRST ISSUE with the 16pp. publisher’s advertisements in vol. II dated January 1847, indicating this is the earliest obtainable copy. Abbey Travel 610; Conrad, p 61; Ferguson 4636; Hill 1487; Renard 1328; Rosove 276.A1a (“scarce”); Sabin 73367; Spence 993; Taurus 9.