ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS: THE SECOND GRINNELL EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, 1853, '54, '55. - Illustrated by upwards of three hundred engravings, from sketches by the Author. The steel plates executed under the superintendence of J.M. Butler, the wood engravings by Van Ingen & Snyder.

In-8 p. (mm. 224x140), 2 volumi, tela editoriale (lievi aloni), decorazione in rilievo ai piatti, titolo oro al dorso, pp. 464,(4); 467,(4). L'opera è illustrata da oltre 300 incisioni su legno nel testo, 2 ritratti (dell'A. e di Henry Grinnell), 2 belle antiporte inc. datate 1856, 1 tabella ripieg., 2 carte geografiche ripieg. (Chart exhibiting the discoveries of the Second American Grinnell Expedition.. / Chart exhibiting the discoveries of the American Arctic Expedition) e 18 tavole fuori testo, inc. in rame, protette da veline.L'esploratore Elisha Kent Kane (1820-1857) partecipò come medico alla spedizione di E. Grinnell alla ricerca di J. Franklin e pubblico' una relazione del viaggio. Ebbe quindi il comando di una seconda spedizione nelle stesse regioni, durante la quale si fermò due volte sulle coste occidentali della Groenlandia, e curò importanti osservazioni scientifiche.Cfr. The Hill Collection,905: A variant edition (la ns. del 1857) - The Hill Collection,904 (in calce all'edizione del 1856): Kane was the commander of the "Advance" on this expedition, also financed by Henry Grinnell. Although Franklins was not found, the explorers were able to gather much information about the people, geography, and natural science of the region. Kane, passing up Smith Sound at the head of Baffin Bay, advanced into the enclosed sea which now bears the name of Kane Basin, thus establishing the Polar route of many future Arctic expeditions. Here the expedition passed two winters, and attained what was to remain for sixteen years the highest northern latitude reached by explorers, 80° 35' N..Testo ben conservato..