(EXPLORATION) HENSON MATTHEW A A Negro Explorer at the North

Sale 2204 - Lot 234

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Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000

SIGNED BY HENSON (EXPLORATION.) HENSON, MATTHEW A. A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. Frontispiece portrait and additional illustrations from photographs. Small 8vo, original blue cloth with a photographic inset on the upper cover; white lettering on the spine faded as usual with this title. New York: Stokes, 1912

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first edition, signed and dated on the verso of the frontispiece, "Matthew A. Henson, Nov. 18, 1913." Henson's (1866-1955) story is remarkable. Born in Baltimore, he was orphaned at the age of 12 and went to sea at the age of 13. Over the next ten years, Henson taught himself to read and studied navigation. In 1887, he met Robert Peary and was hired by him, spending the next twenty-five years voyaging with him. He accompanied Peary on 8 journeys to the Arctic over a period of 18 years. After several failures, Henson, Peary and four Inuit comrades reached the North Pole on April 7, 1909. Henson's contribution was not acknowledged until 1937 when he was made an honorary member of the Explorers' Club. Subsequently he was honored by The Geographical Society in Chicago, as well as by Presidents Eisenhower and Truman.