Polar Books Catalogue

  • Sections : Antarctic; Arctic; Journal of the Manchester Geographical Society; Maps; Miscellaneous; Mountaineering; General Polar; Scott; Other travel; Whaling;

    Search for a book by author or title

    one or two words from the title should be enough
    + ensures a word is present, - excludes it
    Putting your search in " " means the exact phrase is searched

    I.e. South Polar brings all titles that have South and/or Polar in them whilst "South Polar" will only bring those titles up that have South Polar in that order in them
    Click for Full Size image: 300 x 225 (28482 bytes)
    Select for Full Size image: 300 x 225 (28482 bytes) Select for Full Size image: 300 x 225 (27534 bytes) Select for Full Size image: 300 x 225 (28126 bytes) Select for Full Size image: 300 x 225 (43466 bytes) Select for Full Size image: 225 x 300 (21924 bytes)
    Reference 2749 (911)
    Category Arctic;
    Author Ross, John.
    Title 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.
    Publishing Information London: John Murray, 1819.
    Description 1st edition. Errata slip, xl, 252, cxliv. Period calf-backed marbled boards, raised bands, gilt titling to spine, marbled endpapers and page edges NOTE: MISSING MOST OF THE AQUATINT PLATES and charts. Those present are Cape Melville and Melvilles Monument (facing p74); Folding Chart of the Part of Baffin's bay found inhabited (facing p116); Large folding plate Views of Headlands (facing p190); Xeme (facing p LVII) 3 folding Meteorological Journals following appendix. 1st Edition of Ross's famous first voyage which marked the resurgence of British interest in the search for the north-west passage, and inaugurated the great arctic explorations and discoveries of the nineteenth century. Among Ross's officers on the voyage were William Edward Parry, James Clark Ross, and Edward Sabine. Setting out in April of 1818, the expedition rediscovered Baffin Bay and its three Sounds, Smith, Jones, and Lancaster, thereby vindicating the reports made by William Baffin in 1616. Sailing some distance into Lancaster Sound, Ross sited a mirage which he believed to be a range of mountains blocking further passage. These he named the Croker Mountains in honour of the first secretary of the Admiralty, J.W.Croker. On his return to England, Ross's report was initially accepted as conclusive and he was promoted to Captain, but his contention that Lancaster Sound was landlocked was disputed by other members of the crew, notably by his second-in-command, William Edward Parry. Parry's view was supported by Sir John Barrow, second secretary of the Admiralty, with whom Ross was to carry on a life-long quarrel as a result. In 1819, the Admiralty appointed Parry to lead a second expedition, which proved Ross to be mistaken. His reputation seriously discredited, Ross was never again given command of an official government expedition. National Maritime Museum I 818n. Sabin 73376. Smith 8796. TPL 1153. Arctic Bib. 14873. Hill p. 261. Lande 1425. A.B. 14873 Ross was chosen to lead Britains resurgence of exploration of the arctic regions. He commanded the Isabella while William Edward Parry took command of the Alexander. Also included on the voyage were Edward Sabine and Ross's nephew James Clark Ross. The expedition rediscovered Baffins 17th century explorations and found three sounds including Smith, Jones and Lancaster. Unfortuately for Ross, he mistakenly thought the end of Lancaster sound was blocked by a fictitious range of mountains he named the Crocker mountains. After returning to England, many were scepitcal including William Parry about the existance of the mountain range. Parry was chosen to lead another expedition and discovered Lancaster Sound was the gateway to the North West Passage. Ross never lived down this mistake. Covers very worn, rubbed with a small tear to the front cover, previous owners bookplate (Hugh Cecil Lowther, Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944) who after a scandal,in 1888 set out to explore the Arctic regions of Canada as far north as Melville Island, and nearly dying before reaching Kodiak, Alaska in 1889 and returning to England.). Ghost images of plates, charts on facing pages. Contents clean.
    Price £400.00
    Keywords qpolarq, arctic, antarctic, polarbook, polar, S1-Arc
    ISBN
    For further information on this book please click here
    Add this to your basket