The Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon of H.M.S. Hecla; During The Recent Voyage of Discovery Under Captain Parry 1821-1823 [Introduction and Illustrations by James A. Houston]

Barre, MA: Imprint Society, 1970. First Edition. Slipcased. Fine/Very Good. Mt. Vernon, NY: A Colish/James A. Houston. Limited to 1950 copies, unnumbered and unsigned, [reprint of 1824 edition] [12x8.25in]; xvii [1] map 297 pp. [1] imprint, facsimile of 1824 map of voyage and discoveries, eight pen and ink illustrations by Houston, many black/white in text illustrations from 1824 edition; Dark Blue quarter cloth on spine with gilt lettering and illustration of native fish spear, gray-blue paper on covers with illustration of Inuit man on front, dark blue dye to top edge and all edges trimmed, marbled end papers of shades of blue; Gray blue Slipcase with illustration of Inuit man; Some self wear dents and scratches and fading at edges of slipcase. George Francis Lyon (1795-1832) was part of the great British explorers of the early 19th century. Under William Parry's second expedition in the Fury to find the Northwest Passage (1821-23), he commanded the Helca. This expedition spent two winters in the Arctic attempting to meet John Franklin's land expedition to the Coppermine River. The time allowed Lyon to spend time with the Eskimos and learn their language and culture This journal is considered one of the first anthropologist studies of the Eskimos. James Archibald Houston (1921-2005) was a Canadian artist and expert in Inuit art. His introduction to this book and pen and ink illustrations give the Lyon journal a focus as a thoughtful observer on the Inuit culture. Lyon wrote "I verily believe that there does not not exist a more honest set of people...". Houston suggests that "Lyon's journal is best read in tranquility, if possible on a winter's night beside the fire, for it is a daring account quietly told.".