1856 Discovery of Arctic N. West Passage - HMS Investigator

Description: The Discovery of the North-West Passage by H.M.S. "Investigator," Capt. R. M'Clure, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854. Edited by Commander Sherard Osborn, Author of "Stray Leaves from an Arctic Journal," From the Logs and Journals of Captaincies. Robert le M. M'Clure. Illustrated by Commander S. Gurney Cresswell, R.N., London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1856, first edition, fine half-leather binding with marbled boards, fold-out colored map, four lithographic plates, 405 pp, 8.5 x 5.5", 8vo. In good condition. Modern binding lightly scuffed at edges & corners. Marbling bright and clean. Gilt title label & deco on spine bright and clean. Pasted-in bibliographical information found on front paste-down. Previous ownership bookplate also found on front paste-down: Philip Hammond, Esq. Foxing to both front rear fly-leaves. Light toning throughout text-block, some small instance of age-staining. Tissue guards exhibit off-setting from their respective plates. Fold-out map very clean & intact. Binding tight and intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure (1807-1873) was an Irish explorer who explored the Arctic. He traversed the Northwest Passage in 1854 by boat and sledge, and was the first to circumnavigate the Americas. After McClure returned from the first rescue mission of Sir John Franklin, a new search expedition launched in 1850. Commanded by Richard Collinson on HMS Enterprise and McClure, as his subordinate, given command of HMS Investigator. The ships sailed South on the Atlantic, navigated through the Strait of Magellan to the Pacific Ocean assisted by the steam-sloop HMS Gorgon. Collinson and McClure became separated and had no further contact for the rest of their respective journeys. "Investigator" sailed north through the Pacific by way of Bering Strait, and sailing eastward past Point Barrow, Alaska, to eventually link up with another British expedition from the northwest. "Investigator" was abandoned to the pack ice in the spring of 1853. McClure and his crew undertook a sledge journey and were rescued when they happened upon a party from HMS Resolute, one of the ships commanded by Sir Edward Belcher. On McClure's return to the United Kingdom, in 1854, he was court-martialed for the loss of the "Investigator." This was automatic when a Captain lost his ship. Following an honorable acquittal, McClure was knighted and promoted to post-rank, his commission being dated back four years in recognition of his special services. Extremely important travel & exploration history - Arctic travel. Fine binding with modern leather marbled boards. Gift quality - all plates present & fold-out color map intact, clean, and bright. RAREB1856MTUB12/23 - HK1017

Price: 1250 USD

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-08-14T21:18:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.13 USD