BEECHEY, Frederick William (1796-1856). A Voyage of Discovery towards the North Pole, Performed in His Majesty's Ships Dorothea and Trent, under the Command of Captain David Buchan, R.N., 1818; To which is added, a Summary of all the Early Attempts to reach the Pacific by way of the Pole. London: Richard Bentley, 1843.

8vo (221 x 134 mm). Folding route map, 4 engraved plates, 2 folding lithographed panoramas (one separated along fold, the other with some minor chipping). (Some occasional spotting and toning.) Contemporary blind-stamped navy cloth, spine gilt-lettered (rebacked preserving original spine, some minor soiling and wear). Provenance: Collector's bookplate, a few pencil marks.

FIRST EDITION of the account of the failed 1818 attempt to cross the Arctic Ocean to Asia--the last such attempt by the Royal Navy. The expedition was under the command of David Buchan on the H.M.S. Dorothea and John Franklin on the H.M.S. Trent; Beechey served as second-in-command under Franklin. "This book is the standard account, written much later in Beechey's distinguished career" (Books on Ice 2.11). Arctic Bibliography 1230; Hill 97; Sabin 4349; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 1132.