Heading:
Author: Parry, William Edward
Title: Journal of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage From the Atlantic to the Pacific; Performed In The Years 1819-20, In His Majesty’s Ships Hecla and Griper. With an Appendix, Containing Scientific and Other Observations
Place Published: London
Publisher:John Murray
Date Published: 1821
Description:

[8], xxxix, [3], 310, [2], clxxix, [1] pp. Errata slip tipped in. 14 engraved plates, 6 engraved maps and charts (4 folding), tables (1 folding). (4to) 27x21 cm (10½x8¼"), modern tan quarter-calf and marbled boards, spine tooled and lettered in gilt, red leather label, fresh marbled endpapers. First Edition.

Parry was given command of the Hecla and Griper for his first expedition of 1819. He sailed up Baffin Bay and through Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait to the south side of Melville Island, encountering much less heavy ice than anticipated. The expedition over-wintered at Winter Harbour, on the south side of Melville Island. Freeze-up delayed Parry until August of 1820, but he was still able to continue west to Dundas Peninsula and south to Banks Island before turning to head home to England. Parry's voyage was to be recognized as one of the most important in the history of Arctic exploration: he proved that Lancaster Sound opened a passage to the west, he charted a vast area of the unknown Arctic, and proved that it was possible to spend the winter north of the Arctic Circle without being in grave danger. He was also the first to reach 110° west longitude, which earned him and his crew a cash reward of £5,000. Upon his return to London, Parry was promoted to the rank of Commander and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. There was a supplement to the appendix (pp. clxxxiii-cccx) published in 1824, not present with this copy. Arctic Bib. 13145; Sabin 58860.

Minor scuffs to calf; a few light creases, typical light offsetting; slight puncture to Chart of the Discoveries, slight stubtear to map of Baffin Bay; near fine.