Foreword by Robert E. Peary; Introduction by Booker T. Washington

(With: a Near Fine copy of Dark Companion, The Biography of Mathew Henson)

By Henson, Matthew A.

New York, Frederick Stokes, 1912, 1st Edition. Sm8vo – 19.2 cm. [xii], 200pp. Illustrated with seven full-page black-and-white photographic plates including front piece of Matthew Henson with its original tissue guard, Appendix I & II. Publisher’s blue cloth in excellent condition and with undamaged white lettering on front cover and spine. With the black-and-white portrait of Henson inset on front cover in excellent condition. An unusually well-preserved and complete copy showing no chipping to white lettering or cover portrait which is common with this publication, unmarked end leaves and tight un-cracked hinges; no foxing, folds, tears or prior ownership markings. Truly a Fine copy. Very Scarce. Not in Arctic Bibliography.

Appendix I: Notes on the Esquimos

Appendix II: List of Smith Sound Esquimos

Matthew Henson was Robert Peary’s companion and assistant on all but his first trip into the Arctic. Henson was the only other member of Peary’s last expedition (other than Esquimos) that was allowed to go to the Pole. Henson later claimed in an interview that by leading the group, he was actually the first person to step foot on the North Pole.

This book was apparently unsuccessful with few copies sold possibly due to discriminatory attitudes in 1912. As a result, copies of this narrative are considered Very Scarce, and even more so in such well preserved condition inside and out.

With:

Dark Companion: The Biography of Matthew Henson, Conqueror of the Arctic Ice – Co-Discover of the North Pole

By Robinson, Bradley

New York, Robert M. McBride & Company, 1947. First Edition. 8vo – 20.8 cm. [xviii], (1), 266 pp. Cartographic front end leaves, photographic rear end leaves, A Near Fine+ copy in Very Good un-clipped dust jacket; tight un-cracked hinges, no foxing, folds or tears. An excellent copy with introductions by Vilhjalmur Stefansson and Peter Freuchen; Foreword by Commander Donald B. MacMillan.

The biography of Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole and the earliest African American explorer. Henson met Commander Robert E. Peary in November 1887 and joined him on an expedition to Nicaragua. In 1909, Peary mounted his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole and selected Henson to be one of the team of six who would make the final run to the Pole — it was Henson who actually planted the American flag on the spot believed to be the North Pole. Although Admiral Peary received many honors, Henson was largely ignored and spent most of the next thirty years working as a clerk in a federal customs house in New York. In 1944 Congress awarded him a duplicate of the silver medal given to Peary. The illustrated rear endpapers are from Henson’s previously unpublished Arctic photographs. Arctic Bibliography 14683

$2800.00 -