1824 Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russian and Siberia Tartary, From the Frontiers of China to the Frozen Sea and Kamtchatka; Performed During the years 1820, 1821, 1822, and 1823

Description

Author's Presentation Copy, First Edition, Folding Maps, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Scarce, Signed

A signed association copy of this scarce first edition.

Inscribed to the recto of a front blank 'The Right Honourable Lady Napier with the Author's affectionate regards'. Lady Napier, née Elizabeth Cochrane-Johnstone, was the author's sister. The author of this work, Captain John Dundas Cochrane, was the illegitimate son of Scottish MP and notable swindler Andrew Cochrane-Johnstone, while Lady Elizabeth was a legitimate daughter of the same.

Elizabeth married Navy officer Lord William John Napier, whose bookplate appears to the front pastedown.

Illustrated with two folding maps, and with an additional portrait of the author mounted to a blank following the title page. Collated, complete.

Cochrane initially set out to explore unmapped regions of the Arctic coast of Siberia, with his narrative providing an account of his journey - by foot and sled - through Yakutsk to the Kolyma River area, Okhotsk, and Kamchatka, with descriptions of local people and customs. He married the daughter of the local governor of Kamchatka, which ultimately put an end to his travels.

Signed works by Cochrane are incredibly scarce, and this has a particularly lovely association.