[FRANKLIN, Sir John]. OSBORN, Sherard and George F. McDOUGALL (editors). Facsimile of the Illustrated Arctic News, Published on Board H.M.S. Resolute… in Search of the Expedition under Sir John Franklin. L, 15th March 1852. FIRST EDITION.
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Folio (472 x 282 mm). Lithographed throughout. Title-page with hand-colored vignette, numerous illustrations (some with hand-coloring, one full-page and printed in colors, one half-page and printed in colors), most after McDougall. Original dark blue cloth gilt (rebacked preserving original endpapers, small stains upper cover, slight wear to corners). Provenance: Collector's bookplate, a few pencil marks.
FIRST EDITION. The Resolute, under the command of Captain Horatio Austin, and the Assistance, under the command of Erasmus Ommanney, were dispatched in search of Sir John Franklin in February 1850. By August of that year, there were at least 8 vessels in the Arctic searching for Franklin, and public interest was at its height. The "newspaper" was produced to imitate the Illustrated London News, and provided first-hand insight into the life of the expedition, including daily routines, entertainments, and eye-witness accounts of the finding of the first evidence of Franklin's Erebus and Terror. Abbey Travel 639; NMM 915; Sabin 1921.