Passage du Cercle Polaire

Dumont D'Urville, J. Antarctic Views from "Voyage au Pole Sud etdans l'Oceanie sur les Corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zelee..". Paris1841-46, lithographs from the folio atlas volume of the"historique" section [atlas pittoresque] or the famous French scientific voyage whose " 'aims were to explore the south polar regions and various island groups in the Pacific.'

This view: Passage du Cercle Polaire, le 19 Janvier 1840. (Parages Antarctiques.) Plt. 167. Close-up view of the deck of the Astrolabe, the crew in fancy dress celebrating, officers looking on, other crew members going about their duties. Lt. marginal foxing, vgc. 'The expedition reached the ice pack in Jan. 1838, but failed to penetrate it or get south of the 64th parallel. Returning eastward they visited the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, and discovered Joinville Island and Louis Philippe Land...In 1840, from Tasmania, they returned to the Antarctic region where Adelie Land was discovered.'" (Hill).

Black & white lithographs, some with sepia tones.

Image size approx. 12" x 17" on heavy rag paper 21" x 13 1/4". Most have the official blind-stamp of the voyage in the lower margin. The artist on the voyage was L. LeBreton.

The prints are quite stunning records of the ships and life on board, catching seals, making water, usually watched with interest by a group of penguins. There is a strong feeling of the sheer expanse of the Antarctic, there among the ice flows. Ferguson 3184; Spence 399; Hill p.89.