Proceedings of the "Proteus" Court of Inquiry on the Greely Relief Expedition of 1883.

First edition. 8vo. pp. [iv], 310, 265 (Appendix); 4 sepia litho. photo. plates, 6 folding maps; prelims. chipped and creased, tears to folds of most maps, good in recent period-style half calf with gilt-decorated spine. The USA's contribution to the International Polar Year of 1882-3 involved the establishment of a station at Lady Franklin Bay in 1881, which was manned by a 25-strong Army party led by Adolphus Greely, and based at Fort Conger. From there, in 1882 Brainard, Lieut. Lockwood and the dog-driver Frederick Christiansen travelled by sledge and established a new farthest north. However, by August 1883, the expedition was forced to retreat south due to the non-arrival of their relief ships Proteus and Yantic; the Proteus was in fact lost in the Kane Basin. The ensuing privations resulted in the death of all but 7 of the original party before their rescue in June, 1884. The present work contains the findings of the enquiry into the expedition as a whole, with testimonies, reproduction of documents and maps, and other evidence. The book is very uncommon. …