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M'CLURE, Sir Robert John Le Mesurier (1807-1873). The North-West Passage. Capt. M'Clure's Despatches From Her Majesty's Discovery Ship, “Investigator," Off Point Warren and Capt Bathurst. London: John Betts, 1853. 8vo. With folded map inserted between pp. 46 and 47. 48 pp (last 3 pp. are publisher's ads). Approximately 8 x 4 ¾". Bound in modern full textured burgundy cloth, spine lettered in gilt, bound with numerous blank leaves after the text (light rubbing to binding, text lightly toned with some minor occasional foxing). Fine. THE SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF THE ACCOUNT OF M'CLURE'S DISCOVERY OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE. In 1850, Captain M'Clure and the crew of the Investigator entered the Bering Strait from the Pacific Ocean in search of Sir John Franklin. During this expedition, M'Clure found 2 entrances to the Northwest Passage near Banks Island. The Investigator was trapped in the ice and was eventually abandoned; the ships that rescued M'Clure and his crew were also later abandoned - all of the crews eventually rescued on Beechey Island. M'Clure was court-martialled for abandoning the Investigator, but was honorably acquitted, knighted, and was given the 10,000 GBP prize for the discovery of the Northwest Passage. Arctic Bibliography 10565. Sabin 43074.