Phipps | A voyage to the North Pole, 1774

BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE EARLS OF HADDINGTON, LOTS 54-108

PHIPPS, CONSTANTINE JOHN
A voyage towards the North Pole. London: W. Bowyer and J. Nichols for J. Nourse, 1774

FIRST EDITION, 4to (283 x 228mm.), half-title, 15 folding maps and plates, folding letterpress tables, contemporary sprinkled calf, spine gilt, red label, marbled endpapers and edges

In the introduction the author provides an historical account of English voyages in search of a north-west passage from the sixteenth century. "This expedition of the Racehorse and Carcass, undertaken for the purpose of discovering a route to India through the northern polar regions, was blocked by pack ice north of Spitsbergen... The voyage is perhaps best remembered for the presence of young Horatio Nelson, as midshipman aboard the Carcass, and his encounter with a polar bear" (Hill).

LITERATURE:
Hill (2004) 1351; Sabin 62572

PROVENANCE:
George Baillie (1664–1738), engraved armorial bookplate, signature on title; thence by descent to the Earls of Haddington

Condition Report:
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.

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