[Polar Exploration; Autograph] Arctic Explorations; Second Grinnell Expedition in search of John Franklin

Very Scarce Signature of Arctic Explorer Sir John Franklin.

Kane’s Arctic Explorations (spine title); Kane, Elisha Kent. Arctic Explorations The Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin 1853, '54, '55. London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1861. 

510 pp., illustrated with engravings and in-text woodcut designs in the text; fold. map.

Publisher's decorative green cloth, gilt designs on spine and front cover; deep wavy grain cloth also blocked in blind.  Cover has a central vignette depicting 2 men and a row boat, with stars above them--a variation of the image on p. 52, "The Forlorn Hope."  Lower spine vignette depicts one of the doomed ships trapped in ice.

A very good example of this classic Victorian binding, light wear (rubbing) to points and spine; spine gilt work has darkened. Text is good or better, with light to moderate foxing and toning, mainly on early text pages, plates and tissue guards. Front hinge has small wholes, slightly starting; back hinge is tight; yellow-colored end-papers.

Contemporary gift inscription penned on f. end-paper, dated April 1861.  Tipped in on the following leaf (recto of frontispiece) is [Sir] John Franklin's full signature adhered to a separate piece of paper bearing an early autograph collector's notation.  

Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)