SEEMANN, Berthold Carl (1825-1871). Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald during the years 1845-51… being A Circumnavigation of the Globe, and three cruizes to the Arctic Regions in search of Sir John Franklin. L, 1853. FIRST EDITION.
2 volumes, 8vo (218 x 134 mm). Half-titles; folding route map in color, 2 tinted lithographic plates (slight chipping to half-titles and a few other leaves). Modern half blue morocco, spines gilt-lettered, top edge gilt (title and dedication leaf vol. I disbound). Provenance: Haverhill Public Library (a few blind-stamps partially removed); collector's bookplate, a few pencil marks.
FIRST EDITION, the official narrative of this Admiralty voyage and search for Franklin. Seemann, who along with John Richardson served as a naturalist on the voyage, compiled his account from his notes and journals, as well as those from his fellow officer. Until 1848, the party surveyed much of the west coast of the Americas, the Bering Strait, Kamchatka, the Galapagos Islands and Hawaii. From 1848-1850, the Herald was in Arctic waters where Kellett was ordered to join the search for Franklin; Seemann's Narrative includes a separate chapter on Franklin search voyages from 1848-1853. Seemann joined the voyage in 1847, and remained until they sailed back to England via the Cape of Good Hope in 1851. Arctic Bibliography 15680; Hill 1548; Howgego II:K5.