35 / 206
59
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(ARCTIC.) Ross, John, Sir.
A Voyage of Discovery . . . for the Purpose of
Exploring Baffin’s Bay, and Inquiring into the Probability of a North-West
Passage.
3 folding maps, 24 (of 25) plates (including 13 hand-colored), 3 folding tables
preceded by an engraved leaf of explanatory text. [6], xxxix, [1], 252, cxliv pages. 4to,
modern library cloth, moderate wear; foxing, page wear, intermittent soiling, first map and
title page laid down on paper, a few tears, lacking errata slip and the Xeme plate in the
appendix; later owner’s signature on verso of first map, inked St. Charles Borromeo
Seminary stamps on front pastedown and title page.
London, 1819
[500/750]
FIRST EDITION
of Ross’s account of his first expedition, which confirmed the earlier discoveries of
Bylot and Baffin, made important scientific observations, and encountered the previously unknown
group of natives he described as “Arctic Highlanders” (i.e., Eskimos). Though sharply criticized by
John Barrow and others for failing to probe deeper into Lancaster Sound, “in effect Ross began a new
era in Arctic research”—Books on Ice 2.5. Abbey Travel 634; Arctic Bibliography 14873; Hill
1488; Lande 1425; Sabin 73376; TPL 1152.
60
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(ARIZONA.) Aumack, James.
Pair of vivid letters from a soldier at what
became Fort Apache.
Autograph Letters Signed to sister in Iowa. 6 pages on 8 x 5
inches, on 2 folding leaves; separations at folds, doodles and a small Iowa map on the blank
pages. (MRS)
Camp Apache, AZ, 17 and 30 October 1877
[400/600]
James Aumack (1842-1911) was a Civil War veteran and day laborer in Ottumwa, IO before re-enlisting
for duty on the western frontier, where he apparently served in the hospital. “We are having a litle
excitement here with the Mexicans on the Litle Colorad. It is the time of thare big feast. They keep it
up till aftere New Years. Thare is a lot of white desporados went thare, and they got into a row. The
Mexicans got after one of them. He run in to a house and fortified himself with grain sacks and killd
too of them, and filled another ones head full of shot. I pickd out 17 for him. They then tore of the
rofe of the house and shot him. . . . The deputy United States martial has called out the troops.” He
expresses his admiration for a local Mexican trader: “He speekes inglish as goo as i can.” Provenance:
Swann sale, 19 December 1968, lot 25, to the consignor. In 1968, we called these letters “delightful
and interesting,” but “delightful” might not be the right word.
61
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(ARIZONA.) Ives, Joseph Christmas.
Report upon the Colorado River of the
West.
4 folding maps, 34 plates, text illustrations. 131, 14, 154, 30, 6, 31, [1] pages. 4to,
contemporary
1
/
2
calf, minor wear, old tags on backstrip; offsetting from plates; inked library
stamp on title page. 36th Congress, 1st Session, Senate Ex. Doc.
Washington, 1861
[600/900]
THE SCARCER SENATE ISSUE WITH TWO EXTRA MAPS
.
Ives and his party were the first to map
the Grand Canyon, which he famously described here as “altogether valueless”: “It can be approached
only from the south, and after entering it there is nothing to do but leave. Ours has been the first, and
will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality. It seems intended by nature
that the Colorado, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited
and undisturbed” (page 110). Howes I-92; Sabin 35308; Wagner-Camp 375; Wheat,
Transmississippi West, pages IV:95-101.