The North Pole Discovered - or better luck than Capt. Parry.

£2,250 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

In 1827, Sir William Edward Parry made an early attempt to reach the North Pole. Departing in late 1826, he set a new farthest north of 82°45′N the following year, which remained so for the next half century. The print here makes fun of Parry’s near miss. The man seated reading a letter says: “Be aisey now, and I’ll tell ye all about it. he writes - Dear mother - our ship has been castaway but we are all well and coming home with the North Pole.” To which a delighted woman replies: “The North Pole - be der powers pats fortins made anney how - och murdther he’s found der North Pole and der boy’s bringing it home with him - what’ll Capt Parry be sayin to that.” OCLC locates a single copy at the University of Manchester. We find another at Trinity College, Dublin and the BM.

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