Lot 466: SCORESBY, William (1760-1829). An Account of the Arctic Regions, with a History and Description of the Northern Whale Fishery . Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co. and London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., 1820.

SCORESBY, William (1760-1829). An Account of the Arctic Regions, with a History and Description of the Northern Whale Fishery . Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co. and London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., 1820. 2 volumes, 8 o (210 x 135 mm). Half-titles. 24 engraved plates and maps (9 folding), 3 folding tables (some spotting and staining). (Title-pages with offsetting from frontispieces, light marginal dampstaining to the first few leaves of vol. I.) Later 19th-century half calf, marbled boards (some wear at spine ends and corners, some rubbing to joints). Provenance : The Admiralty Library (library stamps on title-pages of both volumes); Louise Arner Boyd (1887-1972), Arctic explorer and the first woman to fly over the North Pole (gift inscription on front pastedowns, bookplates in each volume). FIRST EDITION. Scoresby sailed to the Greenland whale fishery for over 30 years, and this work relates to the history of discovery in the Arctic regions, as well as provides descriptions of 19th-century whaling. Scoresby's chronicle is also important for its valuable information on meteorology and natural history. Although Scoresby's purpose was mainly commercial, he made several scientific achievements including sailing just 500 miles south of the North Pole in 1806, which long remained the highest point reached by a ship. Arctic Bibliography 15610; NMM 833; Sabin 78167. (2)