TRAVEL Africa Polar EXPLORATION BUEL Illustrated 1ST ED

This auction is for an original 1884 1ST EDITION of "THE WORLD'S WONDERS, AS SEEN BY THE GREAT TROPICAL AND POLAR EXPLORERS," by J. W. Buel. WHAT AN EXCELLENT COMPENDIUM OF EXPLORATION, DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD offered in one volume. And what better sources to compile these accounts than from the ones who explored and experienced these incidents! This publication is fully ILLUSTRATED with two hundred beautiful engravings from the designs by the explorers themselves. They truly speak for themselves!

The principal authors consulted on the TROPICAL DISCOVERY (Africa) are: Dr. LIVINSGTONE, Sir Samuel Baker, Capts. Speke and Grant, STANLEY, CuChaillu, Wallace, Squier, Long, Cummings, amongst others. The POLAR EXPLORATION had contributions from distinguished explorers as SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, Capt. McClintock, Dr. Kane, Dr. Hays, Capt. Hall, Lt. Schwatka, Lt. DeLong and GREELY. In combining this narrative, the author's intent was to intermix discoveries and adventures by furnishing a history and description of the animals, reptiles, birds, and savage races of men IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.

Included is GREELY'S EXPEDITION AND ITS DISASTROUS RESULTS (1881-1884). The story of this remarkable journey has been published numerous times over the last 125 years, however, this book was published in 1884. This account offers a fresh perspective as it was related directly from incident. In 1881, First Lieutenant Greely was given command of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition on the ship Proteus. Promoted by Henry W. Howgate, its purpose was to establish one of a chain of meteorological-observation stations as part of the First International Polar Year. The expedition also was commissioned by the US government to collect astronomical and polar magnetic data, which was carried out by the astronomer Edward Israel who was part of Greely's crew. Another goal of the expedition was to search for any clues of the USS Jeannette, lost north of Ellesmere Island.

Greely was without previous Arctic experience, but he and his party were able to discover hitherto many unknown miles along the coast of northwest Greenland. The expedition also crossed Ellesmere Island from east to west and Lt. James B. Lockwood and David L. Brainard achieved a new "farthest north" record of 83°24'. In 1882, Greely sighted a mountain range during a dog sledding exploration to the interior of northern Ellesmere Island and named them the Conger Range. He also sighted the Innuitian Mountains from Lake Hazen.

Two relief ships failed to reach Greely's party encamped at Fort Conger on Ellesmere Island. Thanks to the persistence of Greely's wife, Henrietta, the search was never abandoned. The ship called the Bear, built in Greenock, Scotland, first used as a whaler, was purchased by the U.S. to rescue the Greely party. By the time the Bear, and the ship Thetis arrived on June 22, 1884 to rescue the expedition (which by then had painstakingly relocated to Cape Sabine) 19 of Greely's 25-man crew had perished from starvation, drowning, hypothermia, and in one case, gunshot wounds from an execution ordered by Greely.

Greely and the other survivors were themselves near death; one of the survivors died on the homeward journey. The returning survivors were venerated as heroes, though the heroism was tainted by sensational accusations of cannibalism during the remaining days of low food.

Published in 1884, this cloth bound edition is in GOOD CONDITION! especially for being 125 YEARS OLD! The exterior cover and spine displays an attractive pictorial scene with gilt and raised lettering. The interior offers all 768 pages, tightly bound on clean pages. There are hardly any blemishes and the text block is neat and enjoyable to read. The only flaw are gently cracked hinges. If you share an interest in the early explorations of AFRICA and the ARCTIC, composed by one of the most innovative authors of their time, utilizing the finest explorers of the late 19th century, this book is for you! GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!