London: John Murray, 1829-31. In two volumes. First edition. Parts one and two (of four) only. 4to. xlvi, (ii), 300; lxvi, 523, (1) pp.; with half-titles; errata slip in second volume. Illustrated with 78 etched and lithographic plates (all 50 plates in second volume hand-colored) and some engraved in-text illustrations. Full modern green leather, stamped in gilt; marbled endpapers; original spine labels laid down at front of each volume; scattered foxing to plates; light offsetting on to text. Sabin 71026; Arctic Bibliography 14491, 14502, 17331; Streeter 3700

First edition of Sir John Richardson's account of the natural history of the Canadian Arctic. Richardson accompanied Sir John Franklin on both of his overland expeditions to the Canadian Arctic between 1819 and 1827, and made several discoveries and contributions to the knowledge of the region. These two volumes detail the region's quadrupeds and birds, both depicted in highly detailed etchings and hand-colored lithographs.