May 24, 2007 - Sale 2116

Sale 2116 - Lot 1

Price Realized: $ 26,400
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 12,000
[DRAGE, THEODORE or SWAINE, CHARLES.] An Account of a Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage by Hudson's Streights, to the Western and Southern Ocean of America. 6 folding maps, 4 plates. 2 volumes. 8vo, contemporary calf, minor wear; short tear to A1, maps with a few tears or separations at folds; armorial bookplate on the front pastedowns (Earl of Seafield), the first volume with a later unobtrusive inked stamp of the Cullen House Library on the bookplate. a very nice set. London: Sold by Mr. Joliffe et. al., 1748-49
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Additional Details

rare account of william moore and francis smith's voyage of discovery which would disprove the existence of a passage through hudson's bay.
After the perceived failure of James Middleton's 1741 expedition, Arthur Dobbs convinced Parliament to issue a reward for the discovery of a Northwest Passage through Hudson's Bay. The voyage of the Dobbs-Galley and the California under Captains Moore and Smith resulted and confirmed Middleton's assessment that no such passage existed. Henry Ellis, who served on the Dobbs-Galley, published his own account of this voyage the same year.
This anonymous account is difficult to find in such lovely condition and complete with all maps (some bibliographies incorrectly calling for only 5). Barrow, pages 287-8; European Americana 748/54; Streeter Sale 3640; Sabin 20808; TPL 206.

From the library of Dr. John M. Levinson, with his bookplate.