Thulia: A Tale of the Antarctic.
1843 · NY
by Palmer, James Croxall.
NY, 1843. 72 pp. b/w frontispiece, plates, vignettes.
One of the curiosities produced by the Wilkes Expedition, "Thulia" is, according to Rosove, the earliest published Antarctic poetry. It consists of two long narrative poems describing two years adventures aboard the schooners "Flying Fish" and "Peacock," as they sailed Antarctic waters with the US Exploring Expedition. The poem is followed by notes and a prose summary of the ships adventures, which are the true meat of the book. According to the preface, the text is based on the journals Palmer kept when he served as surgeon aboard the Flying Fish. The twelve attractive engravings are by A.T. Agate, one of the artists on the Expedition, and there is even music written by James Dana, geologist on the Expedition. According to Rosove the "Flying Fish" achieved the highest latitude of any ship during the Expedition. He notes that the book is scarce. Rosove 246. Haskell 186. Spence 890. The book also receives extensive treatment in William E. Lenzs The Poetics of the Antarctic. This copy is bound in original plum cloth with the gilt image of the Flying Fish still bright on the cover. Owners signature on title page. Spine sunned, pastedowns and endpapers show typical darkening from binding materials. A very nice copy of a book that is usually found in poor condition. (Inventory #: 40603)
One of the curiosities produced by the Wilkes Expedition, "Thulia" is, according to Rosove, the earliest published Antarctic poetry. It consists of two long narrative poems describing two years adventures aboard the schooners "Flying Fish" and "Peacock," as they sailed Antarctic waters with the US Exploring Expedition. The poem is followed by notes and a prose summary of the ships adventures, which are the true meat of the book. According to the preface, the text is based on the journals Palmer kept when he served as surgeon aboard the Flying Fish. The twelve attractive engravings are by A.T. Agate, one of the artists on the Expedition, and there is even music written by James Dana, geologist on the Expedition. According to Rosove the "Flying Fish" achieved the highest latitude of any ship during the Expedition. He notes that the book is scarce. Rosove 246. Haskell 186. Spence 890. The book also receives extensive treatment in William E. Lenzs The Poetics of the Antarctic. This copy is bound in original plum cloth with the gilt image of the Flying Fish still bright on the cover. Owners signature on title page. Spine sunned, pastedowns and endpapers show typical darkening from binding materials. A very nice copy of a book that is usually found in poor condition. (Inventory #: 40603)
(978) 283-5299
