1835 The Voyages and Travels of Captains Ross, Parry, Franklin, and Mr. Belzoni; Forming an Interesting History of the Manners, Customs, and characters of Various Nations

Description

Early Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Rebound, Very Scarce

The very scarce second edition of John Frederick Dennett's work, very scarce in all editions, beautifully rebound in quarter calf.

First published in 1826, Captain John Frederick Dennett was clearly familiar with developments in polar exploration, but wrote also with an educational and moral purpose, encouraging his readers to 'become acquainted with the state of mankind in other parts of the world', but also to encourage those in his native England 'to find that the lowest state of comfort in this country is preferable to all the enjoyments within the reach of natives of other climes'.  

Emphasising encounters with native peoples rather than geographical or scientific discoveries, Dennett describes expeditions by Parry, Franklin and Sir John Ross in the Arctic seas and the Canadian north, and also includes a chapter on Giovanni Battista Belzoni's travels in Egypt and Nubia.

Collated, with a frontispiece portrait of Captain Parry, an engraved title page, and ten further plates. The plate titled 'Captain Ross in Polar Dress' is absent.

Present to the rear are eight pages under the title 'The First Voyage of Captain James Cook Round the World'.

A very scarce and fascinating account of these pioneering voyages, accompanied with a short glossary of words in the Esquimaux language.