Cruise of the ‘Pandora’. From the Private Journal kept by Allen Young, R.N.R., F.R.G.S., F.R.A.S., &c., Commander of the Expedition.

PRESENTATION COPY, the title page signed, inscribed and dated by Allen Young

By Allen Young

London: William Clowes, 1876. First Edition, First Printing. 8vo. Folding lithographed map with course of the Pandora marked in red and green, 12 mounted sepia photographed plates by W. J. A. Grant — 10 with tissue guards. Publisher’s blue cloth lettered in bright gilt and ruled in black. A very good copy of an important publication. Rare. —Arctic Bibliography 19758

An account of the 1875 voyage via Melville Bay and the Carey Islands to Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait (as far as Beechey Island), and Peel Sound: with notes on the ice conditions and on a visit to the cryolite mine at Ivigtut, southwest Greenland. The photographs by W.J.A. Grant are the first published photos of the Arctic. Grant, sailed as a photographer with Sir Allen Young on the Pandora in 1876. Grant later made another seven photographic trips to the Arctic — four voyages were in the Dutch Arctic schooner Willem Barents, the others in British yachts. Grant’s photographic legacy is considerable, and the majority of his work was done for the Dutch and is still preserved in the Netherlands. Grant also served as photographer for George Nares.

Captain Allen Young, a merchant marine officer who had served previously under McClintock on the Fox, came from a wealthy brewing family. He financed the two Pandora voyages from his own resources. For the entire expedition, his chief aim was to uncover further details of Franklin’s fate at King William’s Island. In this quest he was foiled, stopped by ice in the Franklin Channel. Nevertheless he was able to take dispatches to George Nares who commented “the officers and men of the `Alert’ and `Discovery’ can scarcely feel sufficiently grateful to Sir Allen Young and his companions for their determined and persevering efforts…”

This unique signed copy is preserved in half-leather custom clam-shell box: dark blue leather and cloth with bright gilt titles and ruling on spine.

$16000.00 - SOLD