On the Exploration of the North Polar Regions - Together with Original Letter Signed By Osborn by OSBORN, Captain Sherard - 1865

London: William Cloves, 1865. These are the administrative papers of the Royal Geographical Society of London which contain letters and dissertations as well as lectures made by explorers. They were published annually as the 'Proceedings' and were separately published from the Society's Journal. Presented here is a double volume No. 8 and No. 9 from 1863 - 1865 which contains a number of polar articles such as the one by Osborn (30 pages). Also present are Petermann (North Polar Exploration), Hickson (Climate and Exploration of North Pole), Markham (Best route for North Polar Exploration), Murchison (Speech on North Polar Exploration), Lady Franklin (Letter on North Poklar Expedition), Linnean Society (Minute on North Polar Expedition), Jansen (Early Dutch Navigators in Arctic Regions and Notes on the Ice between Greenland and Nova Zembla), Hayes (Scientific Results of American Arctic Expedition). Accompanied by a highly detailed Table of Voyages Towards the North Pole, detailing the captain and ship, the latitude and the nature of observation as well as some crucial remarks. These papers clearly summarize the current knowledge of Arctic waters after the Inglefield and McClintock expeditions which brought proof of Franklin's demise. They also clearly demonstrate the effort put forth by the Royal Geographical and Linnean Society to lobby the government to mount another expedition so as not not lose the Arctic advantage to other nations. Accompanying the volume is an ALS by Sherard Osborn advising his correspondent that his election for Fellow of the RGS is not up until the next meeting.. Manuscript.