‘A CORNERSTONE OF ANTARCTIC LITERATURE’
ROSS, James Clark.
A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions, during the Years 1839–43 … With plates, maps, and woodcuts …
London, John Murray, 1847.
Two vols, 8vo, pp. lii, [4], 366, with 6 maps (2 folding) and 5 tinted lithographs; [v]-x, [2], 447, [1], with 2 maps (1 folding) and 3 tinted lithographs; with 23 inserted leaves with letterpress text of contents preceding each chapter, 17 of these with wood-engraved illustrations; some foxing to titles, maps and plates, closed tear to folding plate facing vol. I p. 232; overall very good in contemporary tree-patterned calf by Riviere, rebacked with gilt spines laid down, recent red and green morocco lettering-pieces, recornered, marbled edges and endpapers; a few abrasions to covers.
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A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions, during the Years 1839–43 … With plates, maps, and woodcuts …
First edition, ‘one of the most important works in the history of Antarctic exploration’ (Hill), and ‘a monument to one of mankind’s greatest expeditions of geographical and scientific exploration’ (Rosove).
In the course of his expedition Ross discovered Victoria Land and the twin volcanoes, Erebus and Terror (named after his two ships). The Ross Sea, which leads towards the heart of the Antarctic continent and was the natural point of entry for the great expeditions of the twentieth century, was so-named by Scott in memory of Ross’s achievements in the region. ‘Ross returned to England in 1843 with a large accumulation of observations on magnetism and other branches of natural sciences, including geology and marine life at great depths. He had carried out in his survey the greatest work of its kind yet performed - and, remarkably, with the loss of only one man through illness. This was due in no small measure to the great attention given to the selection of supplies for a mixed diet’ (DSB). The expedition’s naturalist was J.D. Hooker, whose botanical summaries incorporated in Ross’s text struck Charles Darwin as ‘eminently well done’ (see Correspondence IV, p. 169).
Abbey, 610; Ferguson, 4636; Hill, p. 260; Rosove 276.A1 (‘a cornerstone of Antarctic literature and a monument to one of mankind’s greatest expeditions of geographical and scientific exploration’); Sabin, 73367.
