The Voyage Of The Jeannette, 2 vols. The Ship And Ice Journals Of George W. De Long, Lieutenant-Commander U.S.N., And Commander Of The Polar Expedition Of 1879-1881. Edited By His Wife, Emma De Long
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1883. First Printing. Hardcover. 2 volumes. Large 8vo, publisher's pictorial brown cloth gilt, near fine with just a touch of wear and toning, hinges tight, text clean, many plates, maps (some folding), etc. Previous owner's name on flyleaves. Map in pocket at rear of first volume. 911 pp, total. Wikipedia: The Jeannette expedition of 1879–1881, officially called the U.S. Arctic Expedition, was an attempt led by George W. De Long to reach the North Pole by pioneering a route from the Pacific Ocean through the Bering Strait. The premise was that a temperate current, the Kuro Siwo, flowed northwards into the strait, providing a gateway to the Open Polar Sea and thus to the pole. This theory proved illusory; the expedition's ship, USS Jeannette and its crew of thirty-three men, was trapped by ice and drifted for nearly two years before she was crushed and sunk north of the Siberian coast. De Long then led his men on a perilous journey by sled, dragging the Jeannette's whaleboat and two cutters, eventually switching to these small boats to sail for the Lena Delta in Siberia. During this journey, and in the subsequent weeks of wandering in Siberia before rescue, twenty of the ship's complement died, including De Long. Near fine. Item #H27169
Price: $350.00