Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

The Voyage of The Vega Round Asia and Europe – 1883 A.E. Nordenskiold – translated by Alexander Leslie

Published by MacMillan and Co, London in 1883. A first of type. Octavo, 413 pages plus Abstract and Index. Heavily illustrated with 186 wood-cuts, two portraits and two colour lithographed maps.

The very readable account of Adolf Erik Nordenskiold. The introductory note provides a more than adequate summary … “ The present edition of Baron Nordenskiold’s narrative includes the whole of the Voyage of the Vega along the North-East Passage, and the year’s life among the Chukches, with the details collected as to the manners and customs of that interesting people; Nordenskiold’s sketch of hos own journey up the Tenisei, and the voyage of the Lena up the river of that name; the chapters on the hydrography and resources of Siberia; the interesting account of animal life in and around Novaya Zemlya; and a brief sketch of the visit to Japan and the voyage home.

Certainly, we feel Nordenskiold’s achievement of the North-east Passage is hidden in history likely because of the drama associated with the North-East Passage … Franklin etc. It deserves to be elevated as also his narrative which is detailed and far reaching. See our medal commemorating his achievement.

Adolf Nordenskiold – first through the North-West Passage

$180.00

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Voyage Through the Antarctic – Richard Adams and Ronald Lockley

A first edition published by Allen Lane, London in 1982.

Richard Adams, author of Watership Down struck up a friendship with Ronald Lockley author of The Private Life of the Rabbit whilst researching for Watership. This friendship led to making a full Antarctic voyage on the Linblad Explorer from Tierra del Fuego to Stewart Island of South Island New Zealand.

As would be expected an observant and well written narrative with a super selection of photograph’s taken on the voyage by Peter Hirst-Smith … well he did take three thousand from which to make the selection.

Small quarto, 160 pages, numerous illustrations from photographs, nice chart etc …a very good copy.

Adams and Lockley in the Antarctic and not a rabbit in sight.

$40.00

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In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

Sir John Franklin’s expedition left England in 1845 in search of the northwest passage. Three years later HMS Plover was the first to mount what would be many expeditions in search of the lost crew of the Erebus and Terror.

A Hakluyt Society publication in two octavo volumes published in 1988. 584 pages in total heavily illustrated and in fine as if new condition. There is a super large scale folding map on the Western Esquimaux by Simpson which we have difficulty scanning nicely because of its size.

Of further interest is that this expedition approached from the west whereas analysis of the search for Franklin has tended to focus on eastern approaches. The heart of this book is based on the journals of Captain Rochfort Maguire and it represents the earliest account of sustained contact with the Eskimos of northern Alaska. A detailed introduction regarding the history, strategy and logistics of the search and the conclusion supplemented by other accounts of Dr John Simpson who participated in a five boat expedition from Point Barrow.

Search for Franklin – First from the West

$60.00

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Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

Nice condition, quality mount of an unusual subject – Pollen from the Coast of the Antarctic.

Nice deep mount with well preserved coloured mount rings. We are unsure who the preparer was but would suggest they must have been a professional given the mount is in such good shape. The hand written label looks familiar to us but we still cannot pick the preparer.

The location likely in the area immediately south of South America … as these pollen samples would have started life in warmer climes.

Unusual Antarctic Microscope Slide

$40.00

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(South) Polar Operations – Edwin MacDonald

First edition published by The US Naval Institute, Maryland in 1969.

A square octavo format, 239 pages illustrated throughout with images from photographs, amps and charts.

The author was a Deputy Commander of the US Naval Support Force in Antarctica in 1962. He was in charge of the exploration of coastline of Marie Byrd Land on the USS Glacier.

A boo focused, naturally on the ocean and coastline with chapters covering … the Environment; Polar Icebreakers and Icebreaking; the Convoy.. Procedures on Iceworking Vessels; Polar Navigation, Seamanship and Wintering Over… Safety and (importantly) Survival.

More than an Operation Manual – South with the US

$25.00

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Some Songs of the South Pole [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

Published privately, first and only, by the author, Washington DC in 1960. Landscape presentation, 72 pages. A trifle marked to covers … still a very good copy.

Edward Bacon participated in the US “Operation Deep Freeze I” in 1955 when the Americans established their permanent base on the Antarctic. Here he documents his cold climate experiences, songs and poetry. A really interesting companion to the “Songs of the Morning” … see our separate listing

Curious South Polar Item from Operation Deep Freeze.

$70.00

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The Voyage of The Vega Round Asia and Europe – 1883 A.E. Nordenskiold – translated by Alexander Leslie

Voyage Through the Antarctic – Richard Adams and Ronald Lockley

In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

(South) Polar Operations – Edwin MacDonald

Some Songs of the South Pole [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

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