M'Clure, Robert M. - The Discovery of The North-West Passage by H.M.S. "Investigator”, Capt. R. M'Clure - 1857

Account of one of the most significant Arctic expeditions of the 19th century

Robert M. M'Clure, Edited by Captain Sherard Osborn
The Discovery of The North-West Passage by H.M.S. "Investigator”, Capt. R. M'Clure, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854
London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1857 (second edition)

8vo (21.5x14.5 cm); xxxii, 463p. Frontispiece with tissue guard. 4 illustrations with tissue-guards and colour fold-out map, as issued. Original navy blue cloth binding with imprinted decoration front and rear, gilt title on the spine.

Condition good minus: Some wear and small splits at spine ends, some abrasion to boards and fraying at corners, spine ends restored. Text-block sound, inner hinges strengthened. No inscriptions or book plates. Closed page edges a bit grubby/dust marked. Little foxing and spotting. Some stains to surrounds of plates, but generally in good order.

Account of one of the most significant Arctic expeditions of the 19th century. It details the journey led by Captain Robert McClure aboard HMS Investigator as part of the British effort to discover the elusive Northwest Passage—a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic. The expedition, spanning from 1850 to 1854, was fraught with challenges, including harsh weather, treacherous ice conditions, and extreme isolation. McClure’s ship became trapped in the ice for several years, and the crew endured intense hardships, including starvation and scurvy. Despite these obstacles, the crew ultimately succeeded in completing the first recorded transit of the Northwest Passage, although they were forced to abandon the Investigator and were rescued by another expedition ship, the Resolute. This account provides a detailed narrative of the exploration, the struggles of the crew, and the significant achievement in the broader context of Arctic exploration. The book is an important historical document, offering insights into the age of British naval exploration, the geography of the Arctic, and the perseverance required to explore such hostile environments.