Catalog Archive
Auction 181, Lot 392

"To His Most Excellent Majesty William 1Vth. King of Great Britain Ireland &c. This Chart of the Discoveries Made in the Arctic Regions, in 1829, 30, 31, 32, & 33...", Ross, John

Subject: Arctic Ocean

Period: 1834 (dated)

Publication: Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage...

Color: Hand Color

Size:
23.9 x 17.4 inches
60.7 x 44.2 cm
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An uncommon map from Captain John Ross' second exploration of the Arctic in search of a Northwest Passage showing the Boothia Peninsula (Boothia Felix), in present-day Nunavut. Ross was in charge of the expedition and his nephew, James Clark Ross accompanied him on this voyage as second in command. Due to controversies surrounding his previous Arctic voyage in 1818, Ross was unable to secure financing from England for a second voyage. He instead was backed by the London gin magnate, Felix Booth, after whom the Boothia Peninsula is named. The map shows the track of the expedition and Somerset House, where they spent one of the four difficult Arctic winters before they were rescued by whalers in ships acquired from the wreck of the Fury, from Parry's expedition. Given up for lost, when Ross told the whalers that he was Captain Ross of the ship Victory, they grimly told him that could not be, as Captain Ross had died in the Northwest Passage two years before. Ross' record of staying in the Arctic for four winters would not be broken for 70 years. Upon returning to England, the captain was greeted as a hero.

References:

Condition: B+

Issued folding and now flattened and backed with tissue to reinforce and repair three tears at top and far right.

Estimate: $230 - $275

Sold for: $170

Closed on 2/10/2021

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