An Account of a Voyage to Spitzbergen; containing a full description of that country, of the zoology of the North, and of the Shetland Isles; with an account of the Whale Fishery.With an Appendix containing some important observations.

John Laing

Published by J Mawman and David Brown, London and Edinburgh, 1815

About this Item

A fair copy of this important work in newer quarter leather binding. John Laing was ship's surgeon on The Resolution, which sailed from Whitby via Lerwick in the Shetland Isles to the North Sea whale fisheries at Spitzbergen in 1806/7. The book is based on his notes at the time and general observations of his journey, and includes fascinating descriptions of the wildlife he saw. This copy is classed as 'fair' because the print is quite heavy and, in some sections, has offset to the preceding text page. The text is still readable. The binding is in near fine condition with gilt titles and blind tooled lines to spine, and marbled boards. There is slight fading to the spine and light wear. New endpapers and blanks. Contents: title; dedication; advert; journal pp 1-159; appendix pp 161-173 finis. There is some light spotting to the title and the occasional spot elsewhere. Paper is lightly toned, and, as stated above, there are sections of text offsetting.

Seller Inventory # 032598

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Account of a Voyage to Spitzbergen; containing a full description of that country, of the zoology of the North, and of the Shetland Isles; with an account of the Whale Fishery.With an Appendix containing some important observations.
• Publisher: J Mawman and David Brown, London and Edinburgh
• Publication Date: 1815
• Binding: Quarter Leather
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fair
• Seller catalogs:
  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • TRAVEL & TOPOGRAPHY
  • Orkney and Shetland