Journal of a Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery; Including Researches and Discoveries on the Eastern coast of West Greenland, made in the Summer of 1822, in the Ship Baffin of Liverpool
Author: William Scoresby Jr (1789-1857)
Year: 1823
Publisher: Archibald Constable and Co and Hurst, Robinson & Co
Place: Edinburgh and London
Description:
xliii+[1 blank]+[1]-472 pages with 2 folding maps and 6 plates of which 2 are folding. Octavo (8 ¼ x 5 1/2") bound in in late 19th - early 20th century quarter dark green levant morocco over green cloth boards, back-strip stamped in gilt and blind with five raised spine bands, plain dark green end-leaves and gilt to head end pages. (Arctic Bib 15614; Jenkins p. 144; Serbin 78171.1; Hill, 1543) First edition.
William Scoresby was an English whaler, Arctic explorer, scientist and clergyman. William Scoresby's father (1760–1829), made a fortune in the Arctic whale fishery and was also the inventor of the barrel crow's nest. The son made his first voyage with his father at the age of eleven, but then returned to school, where he remained until 1803. After this he became his father's constant companion, and accompanied him as chief officer of the whaler Resolution when on 25 May 1806, he succeeded in reaching 81°30' N. lat. (19° E. long), for twenty-one years the highest northern latitude attained in the eastern hemisphere. During the following winter, Scoresby attended the natural philosophy and chemistry classes at Edinburgh University, and again in 1809.
In his voyage of 1822 to Greenland, Scoresby surveyed and charted with remarkable accuracy 400 miles of the east coast, between 69° 30' and 72° 30', thus contributing to the first real and important geographic knowledge of East Greenland. This, however, proved to be the last of his Arctic voyages. On his return, he learnt of his wife's death, and this event, with other influences acting upon his naturally pious spirit, decided him to enter the church. Scoresby's Journal of a Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery, including Researches and Discoveries on the Eastern Coast of Greenland (1823), appeared at Edinburgh. In 1824, the Royal Society elected him a fellow, and in 1827, he became an honorary corresponding member of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
Condition:
Lacks half title. Spine chipped at edges and toned, some rubbing, soiling to boards, stickers and bookplates removed front front endleaves, text toned with some occasional offsetting from plates, minor occasional soiling in text and plates else about very good.
