Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition to the Mouth of the Great Fish River, and Along the Shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the Years 1833, 1834, and 1835

London. John Murray. 1836. 8vo, 21.5cm, The First Edition, x,[1], (Directions to the Binder), 663,[1]p., with engraved rear folding map, 7 lithographed plates and 9 engraved plates and 8 wood-engraved text illustrations, in contemporary full brown calf, gilt decorated raised bands, gilt center and corner decorations in the panels including gilt rule borders, crushed crimson morocco label, gilt ruled border on the boards, gilt roll decorations on the edges, blind decorated inner dentelles, matched marbled endpapers and edges, With the engraved armorial bookplate of "Henry Fowler Broadwood", a few plates have some slight foxing or transfer but overall less than the normal foxing or transfer one expects on the title, a relatively clean copy in attractive antqiue binding. (cgc). Hill 42. A.B. 851. T.P.L. 477. Lande 935. Sabin 2613. Wagner- Camp 58b:1. Streeter 3705. WCB 58b:2. Field 63. - Back, who had been on both Franklin expeditions, was sent out to locate Ross, who had been unreported through three winters. News of Ross's safe return reached Back in April 1833 and he then pursued the expedition's secondary objectives. These were, firstly, to navigate the length of a river supposedly arising in the neighbourhood of the Great Slave Lake and running north to the Arctic Sea, and then, secondly, to map as much as possible of the sea-coast. He was successful in both objectives, travelling 7,500 miles in total and traversing the full 440-mile length of the river (known as Thlueetessy' by the First Nations). The Great Fish River, as Back named it, has since become known as The Back River. Back discusses in some detail the dealings with the Indian tribes he met along the way, and their dependency upon these natives, especially during the winter. "A fundamental source of information about Indian life along the route of the Arctic expedition." - (Streeter) It was on this expedition of 7,500 miles that Back discovered and named Montreal Island, after the city which had given him such a tumultuous farewell.