Two maps showing Arctic discoveries over an 80-year period:

A. Partie de la Carte du Capitaine Cluny Auteur d'un Ouvrage Anglois Intitule American Traveller Publie a Londres en 1769, from Diderot's Encyclopedia (Supplement), by Didier Robert de Vaugondy, circa 1772, black & white (16.3 x 8.6"). While this fascinating map covers the Arctic from Asia through Europe, the focus of the map is on the North American Arctic region. The most important feature of the map is the early depiction of what is present-day Alaska, patterned after Muller's epic map of 1750 that was the first to show the Russian discoveries, also noted here. The peninsula is shown as an indistinct dashed line that extends out to M. S. Jean. Early explorations are noted: "Terre decouverte par Gwosdew (Gwosden)" and "Decouvert par Bering en 1741." A very interesting Northwest Passage is shown from Repulse Bay in the north part of Hudson Bay into the Arctic Ocean at Cape Fowler. The River of the West enters at about 45° with an uncertain course that is roughly aligned with the F. York river in the southwest of Hudson Bay, another allusion to the Northwest Passage. References: Pedley #460; Wagner #637-10. Condition: Issued folding on watermarked paper with a few faint spots. (A)

B. Arctic Regions and British America, by Adam & Charles Black, circa 1853, hand color (22.2 x 16.5"). A very detailed map of Canada, Alaska and Greenland with emphasis on the Arctic explorations, which are marked. Insets include: "Chart of the Territories Discovered & Examined by the Searching Expeditions under the Command of Cap. Austin & Cap. Penny 1851" and "Beechey Island Site of Sir J. Franklin's Winter Quarters 1845 - 1846". Condition: There is light color offsetting in the image and light toning along the sheet edges. (B+)

References:

Condition:

See description above.