The Last of the Arctic Voyages; Being a Narrative of the Expedition in H. M. S. Assistance, under the Command of. . . in Search of Sir John Franklin, During the Years 1852-53-54 with Notes on the Natural History by Sir John Richardson, et al.

large 8vo [25 x 16 cm]; 2 volumes, xx, 383; vii, 419 pp, complete with 36 plates including 12 fine color lithographed plates, frontis in each volume, 4 maps and charts (3 folding), wood engravings, tables, index, with half title page in each volume. later half green morocco, marbled boards, all edges gilted, title lettering on red spine labels, gilt decorations, gathering a little pulled but firm, few plates with light stain on lower blank margin, a fine clean set in handsome binding. A picture of th Abbey Travel 645. Hill p. 21. National Maritime Museum Catalogue I, 921. Sabin 4389. TPL 3409. Arctic Bibliog. 1241. Belcher described his passage through Wellington Channel and the discovery of Exmouth and North Cornwall Islands and the channel leading to Jones Sound. He described his meeting and rescue of Commander Robert McClure of the Investigator on northern Banks Island. His decision to abandon four ships frozen in the ice in Wellington Channel in 1854 led to his court-martial, but he was acquitted. He became an admiral in 1872. This was the last British government sponsored expedition to search for Sir John Franklin, the rest being private. The work describes the expedition in detail including the weather, snow conditions, food, ice, scurvy, optical phenomena, natural history, hunting, fishing, etc. The appendices include an account of the fishes by John Richardson, fossils by T. W. Salter and Sir R. Owen, shells by l. Reeve, Crustacea by T. Bell. This was the first expedition to the Arctic to use photography although none were published in the book. An important expedition in excellent condition.