AN ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS, with a History and Description of the Northern Whale-Fishery.

First edition, first printing. Edward Whymper's copy. Two volumes. 8vo. Handsomely bound by W. Nutt in contemporary full polished calf. The boards ruled in gilt and with decorative corner devices; the spines with five raised bands, compartments ruled and decorated in gilt and contrasting red and black morocco title labels with titles and volume numbers in gilt. Marbling to endpapers and textblock edges. Illustrated with 2 folding engraved frontispieces, 4 tables, 4 maps and 20 plates. Signed by Edward Whymper to the first blank of volume one "Edward Whymper / 1864" and with his signature again to the verso of the front free endpaper of volume two. Bound without advertisements and half titles. A very good set indeed, the bindings square, firm and bright with just a few minor marks to the boards. The contents, with an earlier ownership inscription to the first blank of volume one neatly crossed through by Whymper, a little scattered foxing and toning to the plates, a water mark to the frontspiece of volume one, a 2cm tear to the join of the folding map and the occasional minor tear to the odd page margin (a couple neatly repaired with archival tape), are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout. A most attractive set.

A key early work on Arctic exploration by the Yorkshire-born whaler, Arctic explorer, scientist and clergyman William Scoresby (1789-1859). The first volume "relates to the progress of discovery in the Arctic regions, and the natural history of Spitzbergen and the Greenland sea, the second is devoted to the whale-fishery as conducted in the seas of Greenland and Davis's Strait. Mr. Scoresby, the commander of a Greenland whaler, has here displayed much judicious and active observation, combined with no ordinary share of acquired knowledge and scientific attainment, and prompted by an ardent and generous zeal for useful discovery" (Sabin). As Hill writes, "Geographically [Scoresby's] discoveries were greater in importance and number than those of any other single navigator in northern waters" (Hill 1543), he "reviewed the history of Arctic exploration and made far-sighted suggestions as to how it might be further advanced. The work attracted the notice of scientists throughout Europe, while also gaining a wide readership" (ODNB). As indicated by his 1864 inscription, the owner of the present copy, the mountaineer, explorer and author Edward Whymper (1840-1911), came into the possession of Scoresby's work during a key period in his own career. Indeed, between 1861 and 1865 Whymper undertook numerous Alpine expeditions, culminating in his famous ascent of the Matterhorn in July 1865; notably, this itself had served in part as preparation for his 1867 expedition to Greenland, which resulted in some significant contributions to the advance of arctic exploration, proving that the interior could be explored effectively via the use of suitably constructed sledges and gathering a scientifically important collection of fossilised plants. This was followed up by a further expedition in 1872, devoted to the mapping of the Greenland coast. A pleasing association copy connecting these two noted nineteenth-century Arctic explorers. (Arctic Bibliography 15610; Lande 2036; Sabin 78167; Hill 1543).