Lot 6038: ROSS, JOHN. 1777-1856. Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833. London: A.W. Webster, 1835.

Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833. London: A.W. Webster, 1835. 2 volumes, including Appendix with Supplement bound in. [8], xxxiii, [1], 740; xii, 120, cxliv, cii, [1 errata]; [2], ii, 18 pp. Volume 1 with 16 steel-engraved plates including frontispiece; 6 color lithographed plates (1 of which is a plan); 3 color mezzotints; 6 maps, one of which is the large folding chart of the Arctic regions with outline hand-coloring. Appendix with portrait frontispiece plus 19 lithographed plates, 12 of which are hand-colored. 4to (302 x 231 mm). Uniform original half calf, spines gilt, red morocco lettering pieces. Foxing at ends to some plate margins and skies (and facing text pages), frontispiece and "Lady Melville's Lake" plate foxed, hinges weak, light sunning and rubbing to bindings.

Large-paper, presentation copy. The scarce supplement bound in at the close of the Appendix is inscribed: "To A Barclay Esqr/ with the Author's Compts."
The expedition survived four winters in the Arctic, during which James Clark Ross discovered the magnetic North Pole (in 1831). The plates include many of Eskimo costume and life, as well as the justly praised color mezzotints showing the polar night sky. Arctic Bib 14866; Field 1321; Hill p 261; Sabin 73381 & 73384.
Provenance: presentation inscription to A. Barclay; armorial bookplates of Charles Barclay.