1933 Iceland UNKNOWN NORTH-EAST VATNAJOKULL Color Map

Author: ROBERTS, Brian
Title: The Cambridge Expedition to Vatnajokull, 1932.
Publisher: London: Royal Geographical Society, 1933.
Item is in ORIGINAL Condition, With Blue Wrappers - As Issued, Complete with All the Ads!!!

Notes: An interesting summary of previous expeditions to Vatnajokull includes those of Swedes Wadell and Ygberg in 1919, the crossing from north to south and back again by the Dane, J P Koch in 1912 and the first crossing made in 1875 by Englishman, W L Watts. Roberts suggests that despite earlier efforts, knowledge of the glacier remained limited: the western and north-eastern edges were practically unexplored at the time and only one detailed map existed and that featured only the glacier's southern edge.

Objectives for the Cambridge Expedition included plans to ascertain the thickness of the ice of Batnajokull and to carrout an ecological survey of representative areas, both in the desert region to the north of the ice and the coastal belt on the south. In order to maximize their time on the ice, the expedition decided to reach the central district with sledges across the ice-cap from Heinabergsjökull, rather than rely on earlier methods of travel (with ponies). The expedition was organized on a scale larger than anything previous and included geologist and zoologist F W Anderson; surveyor J A Beckett; botanist P Falk; W L S Fleming, geologist; W V Lewis, seismologis and surveyor and B B Roberts, ornithologist and leader.

Setting out from Hull on June 22, the steam trawler, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, landed at Hornafjörour in the south east of Iceland four days later. The first part of the journey involved a transfer (with ponies) from Höfn to Kálfafellsstaour and the top of Heinabergsjökull, at which point the expedition continued on skis and sleds. Soft surfaces for the first week delayed the party but eventually they were rewarded by the sight of Kverdfjöll. At Brúarjökull a geological survey of the area was carried out, followed by botanical collections at Vítisvegur. Appendices feature notes on place names; the work of the surveyors - that is, the construction of two maps; geological data; Fleming's geomorphology and glaciology; a botany section which looks at the flora in Kverkfjöll and the desert as far north as the oasis Havannalindir and also on the south coast; zoology - examining the difference between scarcity of life in the desert and the teeming life of the oases, as well as meteorological notes from J A Beckett.

Excerpt from the text: "Although the Icelandic glaciers far exceed in size those of the European mainland, the history of their investigation is very limited, and the knowledge we possess at present is largely due to the Icelander Thorvaldur Thoroddsen, who travelled extensively through the country from 1881 to 1898. His published work contains the most complete description so far of the island and its glacial conditions, but, despite the fact that the study of Icelandic glaciers is chiefly connected with Vatnajokull, our knowledge of this area is very limited. This amazing report picks up where the other expeditions left off to cover an in depth exploration of these natural marvels. End excerpt.

Vatnajokull is the largest ice-cap in Europe. It lies in the south-east corner of Iceland and covers an area of approximately 3400 square miles.

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Condition: 25 pages. Plus black and white plates and a large fold-out color map, measuring 13 inches x 13 inches. Original condition with blue wrappers, titles to front, and containing all the ads. This is a complete issue, seldom found in such good and original condition.