The North West Passage, Roald Amundsen — 1st Edition

£1,000.00

The North West Passage, Roald Amundsen — 1st Edition

Name: The North West Passage, Roald Amundsen — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5941
Price: 1000.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Archibald Constable and Company Limited, 1908

Formatting: 2 Volumes. 8vo, pp. xiii, 335; ix, 397.

Condition Report: Very Good. This two-volume set presents exceptionally well, retaining tight and structurally sound bindings with no major flaws. The original dark green cloth boards remain rich and largely unfaded. The elaborate gilt and enamel tooling to the front boards is wonderfully bright and unoxidised, free from the heavy rubbing that typically plagues this edition. The spines are square with brilliant gilt lettering, showing only slight rubbing and minor pushing to the extreme spine ends. There is a tiny, negligible blemish to the lower front board of Volume II. The top edges remain brightly gilt, while the uncut fore-edges show only minor shelf-dusting. Internally, the volumes are highly commendable; while there is some scattered, light foxing present, predominantly to the preliminary leaves such as the half-title and title pages, the majority of the text block and photographic plates remain crisp and clean.

Catalogue Note: This is the true First English Edition of Amundsen's landmark narrative. The set is presented in the highly desirable primary publisher's binding, which features the striking gilt, green, and red medallion stamped to the front boards, a luxurious detail omitted from later remainder bindings.

The work is profusely illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographic plates and includes a frontispiece portrait of Amundsen with a tissue guard. Complete with the crucial fold-out charts housed at the rear of each volume. The dedication page proudly displays a printed tribute to H.E. Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.

Finding this true first printing in such a bright, unsunned, and structurally sound state is increasingly uncommon, making it a premium acquisition for collectors of Heroic Age polar exploration.

Roald Amundsen's The North West Passage is the definitive, firsthand account of one of the greatest feats in maritime history. Between 1903 and 1907, Amundsen and his small, six-man crew aboard the converted herring boat Gjöa successfully navigated the treacherous, ice-choked waters of the Canadian Arctic, achieving the legendary passage that had doomed centuries of explorers before him, including the ill-fated Franklin expedition. Amundsen's narrative is not only a thrilling chronicle of endurance, scientific discovery, and survival against the odds, but also an invaluable ethnographic record of the indigenous Inuit peoples they wintered alongside. A cornerstone of polar literature, this work cemented Amundsen's legacy as one of the preeminent explorers of the twentieth century.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Roald Amundsen

Book Publisher: Archibald Constable and Company Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 732

Book Publication Year: 1908

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.