Professor Sonntag's Thrilling Narrative of the Grinnell Exploring Expedition to the Arctic Ocean, in the years 1853, 1854, and 1855, in Search of Sir John Franklin, Under the Command of Dr. E.K. Kane U.S.N. ...
Philadelphia, (1857): Charles C. Rhodes. Octavo. Item #025681
176 pages. woodcut illustrations "Containing the history of all previous explorations of the Arctic Ocean, from the year 1618 down to the present time; showing how far they advanced northward, what discoveries they made and their scientific observations. The present whereabouts of Sir John Franklin and his party, if they are still alive. A statement of the only practicable method by which the North Pole may be reached; the reasons why all exploring expeditions have hitherto failed to penetrate the icy barriers of the polar regions. Highly important astronomical observations proving that there is no such thing as apparent time at the North Pole; sufferings of Dr. Kane's exploring party: how they were buried for two years in the ice, enduring a degree of cold never experienced by any human being before; their abandonment of the ship; and perilous journey of four hundred miles over the ice. With nearly one hundred splendid engravings." This "literary imposture, its authorship repudiated by Sonntag, and its authenticity rejected by other members of the expedition ... this work is said ... to have been prepared by Charles C. Rhodes from a brief ms. article on the expedition purchased by Rhodes from Mrs. Sonntag, during Sonntag's absence in Mexico". Professor Sonntag was the astronomer to the expedition. [Cf. Arctic Bibliography 14449; Sabin 86971; Day, Search for the Northwest Passage, 43 82]. Bound in publisher's brown embossed cloth lettered in gilt, spine plain, short closed tear to head, scattered foxing to endpapers only, text clean. stamp to front pastedown and title page "The retreat company".. A very nice copy.
Price: $185.00