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Details
CRESSWELL, Samuel Gurney (1827-1867). A Series of Eight Sketches in Colour of the Voyage of H.M.S. Investigator (Captain M'Clure), during the Discovery of the North-West Passage. London: Day and Son and Ackermann and Co., 1854.
A presentation copy of these rare and spectacular views of the entrapment and abandonment of H.M.S. Investigator in the Arctic ice, inscribed on the title-page: “Thomas Masters Grendon[?] / from S. Gurney Cresswell / Lynn / March 1855.” In 1850, Robert McClure was given command of the Investigator as part of the second Franklin search expedition. Entering the North-West Passage from the Bering Strait and sailing eastwards, the ship became trapped in pack ice in the autumn of 1851, before being finally abandoned in 1853. Although the events were fully documented, the location of the wreck was not known for over 150 years because of difficulties reaching the area. In July 2010 the Investigator was found at a depth of 8 metres, just off Banks Island, in the Beaufort Sea. Of the three Franklin Search plate books (Cresswell, May and Browne), this is the most handsome and rare. We trace no other presentation copies in the auction records. Abbey Travel 644; Arctic Bib. 3477; Sabin 17490; TPL 3353.
Folio (582 x 420mm). 8 chromolithographic plates and one chart. Title incorporating dedication (light foxing/spotting, chiefly marginal). Contemporary boards with gilt-lettered morocco lettering piece, rebacked and recornered to style (neat but large repair to lower right corner of upper board, new endpapers). Provenance: Thomas Masters Grendon[?] (inscription just shaved on title) – Sotheby’s 10 February 1981, lot 357 – Maggs Bros. Ltd. – anonymous private collector – Bjarne Tokerud Bookseller.
A presentation copy of these rare and spectacular views of the entrapment and abandonment of H.M.S. Investigator in the Arctic ice, inscribed on the title-page: “Thomas Masters Grendon[?] / from S. Gurney Cresswell / Lynn / March 1855.” In 1850, Robert McClure was given command of the Investigator as part of the second Franklin search expedition. Entering the North-West Passage from the Bering Strait and sailing eastwards, the ship became trapped in pack ice in the autumn of 1851, before being finally abandoned in 1853. Although the events were fully documented, the location of the wreck was not known for over 150 years because of difficulties reaching the area. In July 2010 the Investigator was found at a depth of 8 metres, just off Banks Island, in the Beaufort Sea. Of the three Franklin Search plate books (Cresswell, May and Browne), this is the most handsome and rare. We trace no other presentation copies in the auction records. Abbey Travel 644; Arctic Bib. 3477; Sabin 17490; TPL 3353.
Folio (582 x 420mm). 8 chromolithographic plates and one chart. Title incorporating dedication (light foxing/spotting, chiefly marginal). Contemporary boards with gilt-lettered morocco lettering piece, rebacked and recornered to style (neat but large repair to lower right corner of upper board, new endpapers). Provenance: Thomas Masters Grendon[?] (inscription just shaved on title) – Sotheby’s 10 February 1981, lot 357 – Maggs Bros. Ltd. – anonymous private collector – Bjarne Tokerud Bookseller.