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GMELIN, Johann George (1709-1755). Reise durch Sibirien, von dem jahre 1733, bis 1743. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck, 1751-52.
"The air seemed as if it were frozen, with the appearance of a fog...birds fell down out of the air as if dead...during the day, short as it was, parhelia and haloes round the sun were frequently seen, and in the night mock moons and haloes about the moon."
The first edition of the most important early work on the natural history of Siberia, with a distinguished scientific provenance. Gmelin served as natural historian on the Great Northern Expedition, one of the largest exploratory enterprises in history, which mapped the Arctic coast of Siberia under the auspices of Vitus Bering. Travelling overland with the historian Gerhard Friedrich Müller and the astronomer Louis Delisle de la Croyère, Gmelin was to survey all aspects of the area and eventually rendez-vous with Bering's seaborne expedition to Kamchatka. However, this plan was abandoned in late 1736 following various difficulties, including a fire which destroyed Gmelin's instruments, notes, and specimens.
The party continued to explore by land, ranging broadly across the previously unsurveyed territories before returning to St Petersburg in February 1743, some nine-and-a-half years after their departure. This copy is formerly of the libraries of Dr. Johann von Autenreith, anatomist and chancellor of the University of Tübingen, and Carl Robert von der Osten-Sacken, consul-general of Russia in New York City until 1871 and a renowned Arctic scientist in his own right. Cox I, 351; Howes G-212; Lada-Mocarski 5; Soliday I 926; Wickersham 6101.
Four volumes, octavo (190 x 124mm). 4 engraved maps; 19 engraved plates, 15 of which are attached to the fore-edges of text leaves (some variable light spotting and browning, some unobtrusive marginal worming in vol. 2, map in vol. 2 upside down). Contemporary half vellum over marbled boards, numbered in manuscript on the spines (lightly rubbed and marked, corners lightly bumped, small chips and cracks on spines); modern cloth slipcase. Provenance: [?]F.R. Dafinger [or Tafinger] (inscriptions on pastedowns and engraved bookplates with Dafinger arms) – Dr Johann Heinrich Ferdinand von Autenrieth (1772-1835, ownership inscriptions) – Carl Robert Romanovich, Baron von der Osten-Sacken (1828-1906, ownership inscription, biographical manuscript note on Gmelin and similar note on Autenreith on front free endpaper of vol. 1) – P. R. Sandwell (his sale, Christie's, 21 September 2005, lot 90).
"The air seemed as if it were frozen, with the appearance of a fog...birds fell down out of the air as if dead...during the day, short as it was, parhelia and haloes round the sun were frequently seen, and in the night mock moons and haloes about the moon."
The first edition of the most important early work on the natural history of Siberia, with a distinguished scientific provenance. Gmelin served as natural historian on the Great Northern Expedition, one of the largest exploratory enterprises in history, which mapped the Arctic coast of Siberia under the auspices of Vitus Bering. Travelling overland with the historian Gerhard Friedrich Müller and the astronomer Louis Delisle de la Croyère, Gmelin was to survey all aspects of the area and eventually rendez-vous with Bering's seaborne expedition to Kamchatka. However, this plan was abandoned in late 1736 following various difficulties, including a fire which destroyed Gmelin's instruments, notes, and specimens.
The party continued to explore by land, ranging broadly across the previously unsurveyed territories before returning to St Petersburg in February 1743, some nine-and-a-half years after their departure. This copy is formerly of the libraries of Dr. Johann von Autenreith, anatomist and chancellor of the University of Tübingen, and Carl Robert von der Osten-Sacken, consul-general of Russia in New York City until 1871 and a renowned Arctic scientist in his own right. Cox I, 351; Howes G-212; Lada-Mocarski 5; Soliday I 926; Wickersham 6101.
Four volumes, octavo (190 x 124mm). 4 engraved maps; 19 engraved plates, 15 of which are attached to the fore-edges of text leaves (some variable light spotting and browning, some unobtrusive marginal worming in vol. 2, map in vol. 2 upside down). Contemporary half vellum over marbled boards, numbered in manuscript on the spines (lightly rubbed and marked, corners lightly bumped, small chips and cracks on spines); modern cloth slipcase. Provenance: [?]F.R. Dafinger [or Tafinger] (inscriptions on pastedowns and engraved bookplates with Dafinger arms) – Dr Johann Heinrich Ferdinand von Autenrieth (1772-1835, ownership inscriptions) – Carl Robert Romanovich, Baron von der Osten-Sacken (1828-1906, ownership inscription, biographical manuscript note on Gmelin and similar note on Autenreith on front free endpaper of vol. 1) – P. R. Sandwell (his sale, Christie's, 21 September 2005, lot 90).