Beschreibung:

Title: The First Crossing of Spitsbergen: Being an Account of an Inland Journey of Exploration and Survey, with Descriptions of Several Mountain Ascents, of Boat Expeditions in Ice Fjord, of a Voyage to North-East-Land, the Seven Islands, Down Hinloopen Strait, nearly to Wiches Land, and into Most of the Fjords of Spitsbergen, and of an Almost Complete Circumnavigation of the Main Island Author: Conway, Sir William Martin Place: London Publisher: J. M. Dent and Co. Date: 1897 Description: xii, 371pp. 8 color lithographic plates (after sketches by H.E. Conway), coated paper, numerous b/w photo plates, and illustrations; two large color folding maps. (8vo) 23.5x17 cm (9¼x6½") quarter beige cloth, with light brown moiré cloth over beveled boards, gilt stamp design and spine. First Edition. “I was too excited about the next advance to await the process of tent-pitching, but went straight on up the hill on my left, round whose foot the glacier bent at its termination. It would be impossible to exaggerate the dejection of mind which at this time possessed us all. Obviously the glacier was a very large one.” Conway and companions spent the summers of 1896 and 1897 exploring, climbing and surveying West Spitsbergen. The party conducted challenging overland expeditions as well as thirteen mountain ascents over areas and up mountains then virtually unknown. They surveyed nearly 600 square miles of central West Spitsbergen, which included nearly circumnavigating the entire main island. [AB 3378]. Lot Amendments Condition: Wear, soiling, and staining to binding, rubbing to extremities, some fraying and peeling to spine cloth, light corner bumps; hinges cracked, dampstain near bottom gutter affecting the first 30 pp. or so, similar stain affecting rear of volume, binding shaken but still solid, maps bright, one with a minor tear at stub; overall very good. Item number: 281051