Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 776

"Historical View of the Progress of Discovery on the More Northern Coasts of America, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time", Harper Bros.

Subject: History - Arctic North America

Period: 1833 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
4 x 6 inches
10.2 x 15.2 cm
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An enjoyable read featuring the accounts of numerous voyages to North America including those of Cabot, Verazzano, Cortes, Viscaino, Bering, Cook, and Vancouver. The book contains several chapters describing the flora, fauna and geology of North America. The frontise is a folding map titled the Northern Coasts of America, J. & I. Harper, uncolored, 1833 (9.5 x 5.5"). The map is printed on banknote paper and shows topography, Indian tribes and numerous place names. There is a good amount of detail of Baffins Bay and the North Georgian Isles that are only partially delineated. Alaska is Russian Territory. An appendix details the "remarks on a late memoir of Sebastian Cabot, with a vindication of Richard Hakluyt." This first American edition contains eight of the nine engraved illustrations listed, with the vignette of "Mount Coplestone, or western Termination of the Rocky Mountains" missing. Engravings by Jackson include a portrait of Hernan Cortes; Grizzle [sic] Bear; American Gray Wolf; American Black Elk; Rocky Mountain Goat and Sheep, and three more. Written by Patrick Fraser Tytler with descriptive sketches of the Natural History of the region by James Wilson. 360 pages. Hardbound in original paper covered boards with printed title on front and spine.

References:

Condition: B+

Map has a long split along a fold and a little toning. The contents are generally clean with the rare foxing spot save for the last few pages which have scattered foxing. The covers are a bit soiled and have splits along the spine. The binding is sound save a few signatures starting.

Estimate: $150 - $200

Sold for: $75

Closed on 5/7/2008

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