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ROSS, John (1777-1856). A Voyage of Discovery, Made Under the Orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's Ships Isabella and Alexander, for the Purpose of Exploring Baffin's Bay, and Inquiring into the Probability of a North-West Passage. London: John Murray, 1819. 4to. Illustrated with 25 aquatint or engraved plates, some fold-out, and 7 maps or charts, some fold-out. [xl], [1]-[254], [i]-cxliv. With errata slip. Approximately 10 ½ x 8". FIRST EDITION OF ROSS' FIRST VOYAGE, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY HIM ON THE TITLE-PAGE: “To the very Reverend the Dean of Chichester with the author's best regards". Affixed to a front binder's blank is a bookseller's ALS (Feb 16th 1863) addressed to Charles Deane discussing a few titles, including this one. And: ROSS, John (1777-1856). Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage, and a Residence in the Arctic Regions During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833. London: A. W. Webster, 1835. 4to. 30 plates and charts, some folding, some in color. In addition a frontispiece portrait of Ross was supplied from the Appendix volume. [viii], [i]-[xxxov], [1]-740 pp. Approximately 10 ½ x 8". FIRST EDITION OF ROSS' SECOND VOYAGE IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE, AUTHOR'S PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY ROSS ON THE TITLE-PAGE: “To The very Reverend The Dean of Chichester with Sir John and Lady Napier best regards [?] 20th October 1834 John Ross". And: ROSS, John (1777-1856). Appendix to the Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage… London: A. W. Webster, 1835. 4to. Illustrated with 19 (of 20) plates, the aforementioned frontispiece portrait of Ross is added to the previous volume. xii, 1-120, [i]-[ciii], [1, blank] pp. With list of subscribers. FIRST EDITION. All 3 volumes uniformly bound in modern full black textured cloth, boards double-ruled in gilt, spines ruled, tooled and lettered in gilt (minor rubbing to bindings, all text generally toned with occasional foxing, some light offsetting from plates, charts - a few tears or verso repairs to folding charts). Fine. Presentation copies of these voyages are scarce. Ross' first expedition to Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound was controversial, as it was ended somewhat prematurely by Ross, who felt that Lancaster Sound was impossible to traverse - this was disagreed upon by his crew, including Captain Parry. "As a result of the failure of his voyage in 1818, the Admiralty refused to support John Ross in a second. It was not until 1829 that the assistance of Felix Booth, the sheriff of London, enabled him to set out in the small paddle-steamer Victory with his nephew James Clark Ross as second-in-command. The expedition survived four winters in the Arctic during which James Clark Ross discovered the North Magnetic Pole." (Hill p. 261). Arctic Bibliography 14873, 14866. Hill 1480, 1490.