The Land of the Midnight Sun. by DU CHAILLU, Paul B - 1882: Summer and Winter Journeys through Sweden, Norway, Lapland and Northern Finland.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1882. First US edition of the book noted for coining the titular phrase. French-American explorer Du Chaillu (1835-1903) travelled extensively across Scandinavia between 1871 and 1878.
His account pays special attention to the antiquities of the prehistoric and Viking ages; it was followed in 1889 by a specialised study, The Viking Age. The Land of the Midnight Sun was originally published in the United Kingdom the previous year; there were several further editions and a German translation. Earlier in his career Du Chaillu undertook a series of celebrated expeditions to Gabon, in which he provided the first external account of gorillas, leading some commentators to cite Du Chaillu as Edgar Rice Burroughs's inspiration for Tarzan. 2 volumes, octavo (222 x 145 mm). Original blue cloth, gilt titles and dark red coat of arms to spines, sun and bird blocks to front boards in gilt and dark red respectively, further bird tools to rear boards, pale brown endpapers. Engraved frontispiece to each volume (double-page in volume 1), 51 similar plates, profuse illustrations to the text, coloured folding map in end-pocket to volume 1. Later ownership inscriptions of A. D. Exton and Franklin Curtiss to the initial blank. Spines slightly faded, extremities a touch rubbed and bumped, rear covers lightly marked, staining from removed bookplates to front pastedowns, contents toned, pale tide-mark to lower outer corners in volume 2 from page 100. A very good copy.
Howgego IV D32.