Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America; effected by the Officers of the Hudson's Bay Company During the Years 1836-39

London, Richard Bentley, 1843, First edition. . half red morocco and matching red boards, raised bands, gilt spine title lettering, front joint cracked & repaired, bookplates of Francis Hagner and Andrew Taylor, polar archivist, interior clean and near fine. . 8vo [23 x 15 cm]; xix, 419 pp 3 folding maps on two sheets, two maps hand colored in outline. . TPL 2315. Streeter 3709. Hill p274. Field 1411. Wagner-Camp 101. Arctic Bibliography 16124: 'Contains biographical sketch of the author with comment on the mystery of his death by his brother, narrative of expedition of Peter Dease and Thomas Simpson with party of twelve men to explore the northern coast of America from Mackenzie River westward and from Coppermine River eastward to Back River. Contains the journey from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to Fort Chipewyan; descent of the Slave and Mackenzie [Rivers], etc.; discovering Boothia (now Simpson) Strait; exploration of the southern coast of Boothia Peninsula and Victoria Island. Includes detailed remarks on geographic features along the routes, weather and travel conditions; the Indians and Eskimos of the Mackenzie, northern Alaska and Coppermine regions'. An appendix lists about 150 plants collected along the coast between Coppermine River and Point Turn again, 1838, with reference to literature by Sir W. J. Hooker, eminent botanist, magnetic variation and dip observed by Simpson. Besides the maps called for in the book there are several contemporary maps, mounted on rear endpapers, including two maps taken from the Times of November 1st and 2nd, 1876 relating to the Nares Arctic expedition in the Alert and Discovery with two pages of text on same; and a folding map of the Arctic regions showing the route of the Captain Austin expedition, undated but nineteenth century, entitled Map of the Arctic Seas to Illustrate Franklin's Footsteps, Chapman & Hall (corner damage). A picture of this book is available on request by email.