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Arctic Miscellanies. A Souvenir Of The Late Polar Search. By The Officers And Seamen Of The Expedition.
'Aurora Borealis'
1852
Colburn and Co : London
9" by 6"
xviii [1], 2-347 [2], 2-24 [2] pp
SUMMARY
The scarce first edition of this remarkable collection of articles written by a crew marooned in frozen Arctic waters. Rebound in half calf and illustrated throughout.
Colour Plates,First Edition,Illustrated,Leather Binding,Rebound,Scarce
Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed
This book weighs 1.5 KG when packed
UK Postage: £ 3.99
US Postage: £ 23.99
EU Postage: £ 18.99
European Postage: £ 19.99
Asia Postage: £ 31.99
Worldwide Postage: £ 32.99
DESCRIPTION
The first edition of this fascinating and scarce publication from the crew of the 'Assistance', the expedition led by Horatio Austin in 1850-51 to find Franklin's lost party.
Locked in ice in the Canadian Arctic waters for eleven months, Austin's crew published a monthly newsletter to provide employment and amusement for their comrades, titling it the 'Aurora Borealis'. Edited by one of the officers, the men and officers onboard contributed a variety of both whimsical and informative articles, discussing the Inuit, sledge rides, history, and ornithology amongst a wide range of topics.
The preface remarks that this is an extraordinary publication due to its 'faithful record of the thoughts and sentiments of a body of our countrymen whilst exposed to extraordinary hardships and danger', remarking also upon the 'intellectual revolution' that had taken place in England, resulting in the literacy of ordinary seamen, and thus their ability to contribute their work.
With a colour chromolithograph frontispiece, engraved title page vignette, and a wealth of further vignette illustrations.
To the rear of the work is a twenty-four page publisher's catalogue, and an advertisement for Colburn's United Service Magazine. With the stamps of the Portsmouth Port Officer's Library to the tail of half title and page 346, and no other library markings present.
This fascinating and sometimes humorous collection of articles is described in the preface as possessing a 'delicacy of imagination and a power of perception' that make this work a formidable addition to the collection of anyone with an interest in polar expeditions.
CONDITION
Rebound in half calf, with marbled paper covered boards and endpapers renewed. One small mark to back strip, otherwise, externally pristine. Internally, a little tightly bound. Frontispiece chipped and rebacked to fore edge. Library stamp to tail of half title and page 346. Pages bright and generally clean, with the odd handling mark.
Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Overall Condition
(Dustwrapper condition rating is shown after that for the book itself, where a dustwrapper is present)
Fine - Very well preserved copy showing very little wear
Very Good Indeed - Only one or two minor faults, really a very attractive copy
Very Good - Quite a wide term meaning no major faults but probably several smaller ones
often expected given the age of the book, but still a respectable copy
Good - Meaning not very good. Some more serious faults as will
be described in the condition report under 'condition'
Good Only - Meaning one or more faults that could really do with repair
Fair - As with good only above but with other faults
leaving a compromised copy even after repair
Poor - Really bad and possibly seriously incomplete.
We only sell books in this condition where their rarity or value makes them
attractive none the less. Major defects will be described.
GUARANTEE
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