Browne, William Henry, Lieut.:

$8,000 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

TEN COLOURED VIEWS TAKEN DURING THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS "ENTERPRISE" AND "INVESTIGATOR," UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN SIR JAMES C. ... A presentation copy, inscribed on the titlepage: "Presented to J.E. Brooman by his ship mate and friend Willy Browne, with best wishes." There is an additional inscription on the titlepage by Brooman, presenting this copy to Emily L. Royle.This work presents William Henry Browne's exceptional depictions of the Arctic, drawn from his personal experiences. Lieutenant Browne was an officer on the first expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, who had disappeared in 1845 while seeking a northwest passage. This is one of three color plate books to result from Franklin search parties, being the earliest and more modest of them (the portfolios of Creswell and May, issued in 1854 and 1855, are grander affairs). Nonetheless, the Browne plates are handsome and striking arctic scenes depicting the stark scenery of the Far North and the toils of the expedition. J.E. Brooman served again with Browne as Purser on board the H.M.S. Resolute under Capt. H.T. Austin on the 1850-51 expedition in search of Franklin, which found traces of Franklin's first winter camp on Beechey Island from 1845-46, as well as the graves of John Torrington, John Hartnell, and William Braine.This title is uncommon, and this is the only presentation copy we have come across in auction records or in the marketplace.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.