Rare books from Polar Books

John Murray, London, 1824. First Edition. Hardcover. Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Signed by Author. THREE TITLES BOUND INTO 2 VOLUMES - WILL SELL JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE 1819-20 WITH APPENDIX SEPARATELY FOR £600.00 Journal of a voyage for the discovery of a North-West Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific; performed in the years 1819-20, in his Majesty's ships Hecla and Griper. With an appendix, containing the scientific and other observations: The Second Edition: London: John Murray, 1821. xxix, folding chart, 310pp, clxxix appendix, illustrated 20 charts and plates as called for, (Plate XIII as frontispiece rather than facing page 97) Leather covers with paper label to spine. Front cover detached, armorial owners bookplate on verso front cover, price in ink on title page, repair to chart of Baffins bay, this chart has also been poorly folded. Age toning, foxing to pages as expected. Journal of a Second Voyage for the Discovery of a… Read More

A.W. Webster, London, 1835. First Edition. Hardcover (Half Leather). Very Good/No Dust Jacket. NARRATIVE OF A SECOND VOYAGE IN SEARCH OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833. Including the Reports of Commander, now Captain James Clark Ross and The Discovery of the Northern Magnetic Pole. 1st Edition. xxxiii, (1), 740pp, illustrated with 31 plates, including 6 maps and charts, some outlined in colour and 2 folding, 24 views, some hand coloured. Appendix: xii, 120pp, cxliv, ciii. Half cream leather with dark brown leather boards, spine ruled with black leather spine labels, titled in gilt. After the embarrassment of Ross's first voyage in which he claimed to see the mountains in Lancaster Sound, it took him a decade to source private backing (he had lost the confidence of the British Admiralty) for a second trip. Ross travelled through Lancaster Sound into Prince Regent inlet and onto Boothia Peninsula, while on the way… Read More

Smith Elder, London, 1914. First Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. 1st Edition; This copy is 243 of a limited edition of 350. Cloth, titles to spines and upper boards gilt, inset coloured pictorial decoration to upper boards and gilt rope-motif borders, all edges gilt. Copiously illustrated drawings in the text and full-page plates from sketches and paintings by E. Wilson, H. Ponting, and others. Gutta-percha binding delicate with some leaves loosening as is usual. Ex Library with various fairly discrete library stamps on some pages, otherwise contents clean. The South Polar Times was a magazine written and printed by the members of Antarctic Expeditions during the various voyages they undertook. In 1907 the batches were printed and issued in some 250 copies. When in 1914 the later issues could be laid to hand the third and final volume was published. Together they form what is perhaps the most personal of the printed documents to have come out of that most… Read More

Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, London, 1831. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good. 1st Octavo 8vo Edition; Two volumes, Vol I [iv]-xxvi, [1, directions to the binder], 472pp; Vol II iv, 452pp. Three engraved maps, two of which are folding, and twenty-three engraved plates, many not in place as in directions to binder but all complete, also two copies of one of the plates. Contemporary rebound, cloth, half calf, Each volume with red and black spine labels. Spines stamped and lettered in gilt. All edges marbled. Beechey’s expedition on board the H.M.S. Blossom formed part of a double-pronged assault on the western approaches to the Arctic. Sent by way of Bering’s Strait to explore the northern coast eastward, Beechey was to eventually link up with Franklin’s second expedition, working westward from the Mackenzie River. The two parties came within several hundred miles of each other, one of Beechey’s vessels managing to penetrate as far as Cape Barrow, while Franklin turned back… Read More

Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, London, 1831. Early Edition. Cloth. Fair/No Dust Jacket. The 1st Admiralty Edition in quarto; Two volumes, Vol I, fep, folding map, title page, vii-xxi, [1, directions to the binder], 392pp; illustrated, 14 plates, 3 charts, (2 folding). MISSING 5 PLATES AND PAGES v-vi, 329-336), Up to page viii, detached as is pages 387 to 392. Vol II (2), errata slip, vi-vii, directions to binder pages 393-742 (2 publishers advertisements), illustrated 7 plates. (MISSING 1 plate). Half bound marbled boards. Beechey’s expedition on board the H.M.S. Blossom formed part of a double-pronged assault on the western approaches to the Arctic. Sent by way of Bering’s Strait to explore the northern coast eastward, Beechey was to eventually link up with Franklin’s second expedition, working westward from the Mackenzie River. The two parties came within several hundred miles of each other, one of Beechey’s vessels managing to penetrate as far as Cape Barrow, while… Read More

John Murray, London, 1826. First Edition. Marbled boards Quarter bound leather. Very Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Signed by Author. 1st Edition Association Copy, SIGNED BY AUTHOR: WINTER SKETCHES IN LAPLAND Or Illustrations of a journey from Alten on the shores of the Polar Sea in 69 degrees 55 minutes North Lat. through Norwegian, Russian and Swedish Lapland to Tornea at the extremity of the Gulf of Bothnia. Intended to exhibit a complete view of the mode of travelling with Rein Deer, the most striking incidents that occurred during the journey, and the general character of the winter scenery of Lapland. 2nd Title page in French. "With Capt Brookes comps" written is his own hand on title page and a SIGNED letter from Arthur de Capell Brooke to Barry tipped onto verso of front cover. Bookplate of Arthur Hugh Smith Barry, Marbury Hall tipped onto verso front cover. A set of 24 tinted lithographs, believed to be printed on China paper. The sketches are by Brooke drawn on stone by… Read More

Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1911. First Edition. Cloth. Good/No Dust Jacket. 1st English Edition; Association Copy - Rudmose-Brown. English Version translated by Philip Walsh. viii, 315 pages, folding photographic frontispiece plus 47 photographs, 3 sketches and 1 map. Original blue-grey cloth binding, embossed with gilt illustration of a ship and titling on front cover, white a penguin and gilt titling to spine. "Ex Libri Rudmose Brown" stamp of verso front cover and signed R N Rudmose Brown may 28th 1912 on Front end paper. Spine faded, endpapers browned, Bubbling and bowing to covers. Contents clean. Exploration & mapping of 3000km of the Antarctic Peninsula (Graham Land) by a French expedition. Charcot continued exploring and recording data in the polar water until his death in 1936 in a storm-induced shipwreck on the coast of Iceland. Provenance: Library stamp of R.N.Rudmose-Brown with his signature dated May 28, 1912 on front end paper. Rudmose Brown was a botanist and… Read More

John Murray,, London, 1912. First Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Very Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. 1st UK Edition in English,1st impression of Amundsen's legendary narrative of his race to the Pole: A very good copy, 2 Volumes. Vol I, xxxv, 392 pages, 59 plates including frontispiece, 1 folding map. Vol II, xx, 449 pages, 46 plates including frontispiece, 1 folding diagram, 1 folding chart, 1 folding coloured map, 16 charts in text. Original covers with gilt titles to front cover and spine, Norwegian flag embossed on front cover. Top page edges gilt. A cornerstone of Antarctic exploration; the account of the first expedition to reach the South Pole. A handsomely produced book containing ten full-page photographic images not found in the Norwegian original, and all full-page images being reproduced to a higher standard. Rudmore Brown was a member of the Scottish Expedition and co-authored "The voyage of the Scotia." (Taurus 51). Taurus 71; Rosove 9.A1. Shelf wear. Age… Read More

J. Nourse, Bookseller to His Majesty, 1773. First Edition. Calf. Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. 1st Edition; viii, 254 pages, 3 folding engraved maps (incl. frontispiece), 12 folding engraved plates. numerous tables, (11 folding), leaf of directions to the binder. All edges gilt. Original full marbled calf, spine gilt in compartments with red morocco title label lettered in gold, gilt binding edges. Top of spine softening and small parts missing. Text block tight. Official account written by Captain Phipps, later Lord Mulgrave. The expedition of the Racehorse and Carcass, undertaken for the purpose of discovering a route to India through the northern polar regions, was blocked by pack ice of Spitsbergen. The valuable appendix gives geographical and meteorological observations, zoological and botanical records, accounts of the distillation of fresh water from the sea, and astronomical observations. The voyage is perhaps best remembered for the presence of young Horatio Nelson, as midshipsman… Read More

Macmillan Company, New York, 1939. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good Condition/Good. 1st Edition; 1st US Edition: xxi, 292 pages, photographic frontispiece, 32 photographic illustrations on nineteen plates, two photographic panoramas on one folding plate, double page meteorological table and three sketches to text. Two young and inexperienced junior team members stayed to winter on a tiny islet in the Antarctic in a disused boat, a handful of instruments and a scanty stock of provisions. Not only did they survive, but they also carried out scientific work. Previous owners signature (in pencil) on front fly page. Dust jacket has some very minor closed edge minor tears and there is strengthening on the inside. PLUS Transactions of the Zoological Society of London - NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE GENTOO AND RINGED OR ANTARCTIC PENGUINS. 1938 reprint of the above article; pages 186 to 307. Illustrated with many b/w photos of penguins plus some b/w diagrams and maps. Fascinating study of the Gentoo… Read More

Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington, 1884. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. 1st Edition; Full Title: Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and Round the World: Being Personal Narratives of Attempts to Reach the North and South Poles; and of an Open-boat Expedition up the Wellington Channel in Search of Sir John Franklin and Her Majesty's "Erebus" and "Terror," in Her Majesty's Boat "Forlorn Hope," under the command of the author. To which are added an autobiography, appendix, portraits, Maps and numerous illustrations. 2 volumes; Vol I xx, 432 pages, Vol II xii, 412 pages, all illustrations, panorama and maps as called for in the contents. Appendix, Index. "Memorandum" and "Opinions" at back of Vol II. Original highly decorated covers. Covers worn, bumped, corners frayed, with top of Volume 2 corner split, spine ends worn, softened, front end paper and frontispiece loose Volume 1, rear hinge… Read More

Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington, London, 1884. First Edition. Cloth. Good/No Dust Jacket. 1st Edition; Volume 2 ONLY, xii, 412 pages, all illustrations and maps as called for. Appendix, Index. Original covers, yellow end papers. Shelf ware, covers bumped beginning to fray, spine sunned and softening as expected. Some foxing, mainly to prelims and end papers and page edges. Contents clean. Volume 2 contains The Voyage in Search of Sir John Franklin and Her Majesty's "Erebus" and "Terror," under the command of the author. To which are added, some concluding remarks, an autobiography and appendix. Full Title: Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and Round the World: Being Personal Narratives of Attempts to Reach the North and South Poles; and of an Open-boat Expedition up the Wellington Channel in Search of Sir John Franklin and Her Majesty's "Erebus" and "Terror," in Her Majesty's Boat "Forlorn Hope,"… Read More

Constable, London, 1922. First Edition. Linen-Papered Boards. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. 1st edition. 2 volumes, Vol I, lxiv, 1-300, [4] appendix, 30 coloured and b/w plates, (including frontispiece and 2 folding panoramas), many by Dr. A Wilson, 4 maps (3 folding); Vol II, viii, 301-585, 28 plates leaves (including coloured frontispiece, 8 folding panoramas), 1 folding map. Pages uncut, Original tan linen on blue-grey papered covers, lettered paper spine labels with duplicates tipped in on each volume's front end paper. Foxing to page edges as expected, contents clean. COMPLETE with all plates, maps, and pages including 48 plates (6 colour), 5 maps (4 folding), and 10 panoramic views (not found in later editions). It is Cherry-Garrad's first-person account of Scott's last Antarctic Expedition from 1910-13. The best written and most enduring account of exploits in the Antarctic. Taurus. A classic - it has been called "The best polar book ever written." Very Good. "It was… Read More

Oxford, At the Theatre,, . First Edition. . Fair/No Dust Jacket. THE HISTORY OF LAPLAND WHEREIN ARE SHEWED THE ORIGINAL MANNERS, HABITS, MARRIAGES, CONJURATIONS, &C. OF THAT PEOPLE 1st 1674 English Edition; (first published in Latin in Uppsala in 1670), woodcut title vignette, 25 woodcut illustrations in the text, 147 pages, adverts. Bound together with Sandys Travels, Containing an History of the Original and Present State of the Turkish Empire1673, The Seventh Edition with a folding map part of Africa. Title page, [ii], folding map, (torn and repaired, taped) 240pages. Contemporary owners inscription of 1830 on front board and top of title page. Boards, maps and some pages mended with a thick brown paper. Damp staining throughout, tops of some pages worn away, damaged but contents all still readable and clear. Hardly surprising considering the age. .Scheffer (1621-1679), Swedish philologist and archaeologist, was appointed professor at Uppsala University in 1647 where he undertook… Read More

John Murray, London, 1823. Second Edition. Hardcover. Good/No Dust Jacket. 2nd Edition: vii, [1], 303 pages, illustrated with text illustrations, 27 plates,maps (3 hand-colored) and folding table. Ex Libri, Library hardcover with spine label, text block beginning to split on first few pages. Library pocket paste down and all plates, maps have discreet library stamp of Bradford Library. All plates/maps as called for. Odd spotting to page edges and evidence that the book has been cut to a slightly smaller size at top of pages as some plate numbers are partially missing. Contents clean otherwise. "Reliquiae", his most acclaimed and influential treatise, outlines his arguments for a global deluge in Noah's time. The volume documents Buckland's keen observations and discoveries of the bones of antediluvian mammals (hyaenas, tigers, elephants, rhinos, etc.) in caves and river-gravels in England, France, Germany and elsewhere. Later chapters discuss geologic evidence of catastrophic… Read More