Beschreibung:

FRANKLIN, Sir John]. OSBORN, Sherard and George F. McDOUGALL (editors). Facsimile of the Illustrated Arctic News, Published on Board H.M.S. Resolute: Capt n. Horatio T. Austin, C.B. in Search of the Expedition under Sir John Franklin . London: Ackermann & Co., 15th March 1852. 2 o (470 x 290 mm). Lithographed throughout. Title-page with hand-colored vignette, numerous illustrations, some hand-colored, one full-page and printed in colors, a second half-page and printed in colors, most after McDougall. (Some repaired marginal tears, some generally light marginal soiling.) Original dark blue cloth gilt (slight wear to hinges). FIRST EDITION. The Resolute under the command of Captain Horatio Austin and the Assistance under Erasmus Ommanney were despatched to search for Sir John Franklin in February 1850. Public interest in and concern for the fate of Sir John's expedition was at its height and, as the illustration on p. 13 of this work shows, by the middle of August there were at least eight vessels in the Arctic. The "newspaper" was produced (in acknowledged imitation of the Illustrated London News ) by Osborne and McDougall with contributions from various other generally pseudonymous sources. The text gives a first hand insight into the life of the expedition: the daily routine, eye-witness accounts of the finding of the first evidence of Franklin's Erebus and Terror expedition and their various entertainments. All are amply illustrated with accompanying vignettes. The work is presented with 2 preliminary leaves, followed by the five "issues" of the periodical, and finishing with 2 leaves of miscellaneous "Arctic sketches." Abbey Travel 639; NMM 915; Sabin 1921. RARE.