first edition
1828 · London
by Franklin, John
London: John Murray, Albemarle-Street, 1828. First Edition. Near Fine. William Clowes. [10.5x8.75in]; [1], xxiv, [xxi]-xxiv, 320 pp., clvii [appendices], [1], [errata], 31 plates, including frontispiece, of illustrations by George Back and E, N, Kendall engraved by Edward Finden, six folding maps with one colored outline of river and coastline, and tables in appendices; 20th Century Brown Half-calf with marbled boards, raised ribbed spine with gilt lettering on field of red and devices; Text block and plates have minimal light foxing, some dust soiling to text, plates and top edge, inconspicuous blind stamp of Leeds Public Library on frontispiece, title page, table of contents, all plates and maps, a few plates missing tissue guard, some minor creases in edges of several maps; [Hill 636, Arctic Bibliography 5198, Wagner-Camp 35:1Howgego F14, National Maritime Museum 843]. Franklin's second overland expedition in 1825-27 one of two expeditions to the western approaches to the Arctic with Beechey's voyage to Bering's Strait. The expedition proceeded across North-western Canada to Fort Franklin on Great Slave Lake, and down the Mackenzie to its mouth. There a party under Richardson and Kindle split to explore eastward along the coast to the mouth of the Coppermine, while Franklin and Back headed westward along the coast toward Kotzebue Sound where they were to join up with Beechey. The narrative includes descriptions of the country traversed and of encounters with Esquimaux, notes on weather conditions, the Dogrib Indians, and the burning coal cliffs beyond Cape Bathurst.
(Inventory #: 13012)