BACK, George (1796-1878). Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition to the Mouth of the Great Fish River, and along the Shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the Years 1833, 1834, and 1835. London: John Murray, 1836. 4to. 16 engraved or lithographed plates and large folding map. [xii], [1]-[664] pp. Bound in 19th century full tan calf, boards double-ruled in gilt, spine ruled, tooled in gilt in compartments, 2 brown gilt morocco lettering labels, five raised bands, marbled edges and endleaves (binding heavily worn, spine chipped, front board detached, rear joint cracking (rear board nearly detached), some toning and occasional thumboiling to text, plates foxed; Salem Public Library bookplate (1889) on fp., their label on the copyright page, and their embossed stamp on the title-page, a few text pages, and all plates and the map). Fair. THE RARE FIRST EDITION, LARGE-PAPER ISSUE of “one of the fundamental books on Arctic exploration." Back covered over 7500 miles, 1200 of which were previously unknown territory. His narrative holds literary esteem and is “full of details about the Cree, Chippewa, Coppermine Indians, and other tribes, upon whom members of the exhibition were obliged to depend during a terrible winter" (Hill). According to Sabin, the Large Paper issue was published for the Admiralty. Arctic Bib. 851; Field 63 (“a splendid specimen of typographic art"); Hill 42; Sabin 2613; Streeter sale 3704; TPL 1873, Wagner-Camp 58b:2.