Beschreibung:

xx, [1], 200 pp. Foreword by R.E. Peary. Introduction by Booker T. Washington. Illustrated from B&W photographs including frontispiece portrait of the author. 18.7x12 cm (7¼x4¾"), original blue cloth with b&w photograph on front cover, lettering in white. First Edition. Robert Peary met 21-year-old Matthew Henson, an African-American man, working as a sales clerk in 1887. Upon learning that Henson had six years of seagoing experience as a cabin boy, Peary immediately hired him as a personal valet. Henson then accompanied Peary on every one of his subsequent Arctic expeditions, becoming his field assistant and "first man", a critical member of his team. Henson was present on their third, and successful attempt to reach the North Pole, though his participation would not be acknowledged for decades after. He is now recognized as one of the major African-American explorers of the 19th century.