A Dutch edition of Hearne's expedition in search of the Northwest Passage and the fabled coppermines. A masterpiece in the literature of exploration, it contains interesting details on natural history and the Indian tribes of the region. Travelling overland from the Hudson Bay to the Arctic, Hearne met with many dangers, and very realistically describes the life and customs of the North American Indians. Tracing the Coppermine River, he reached the Arctic Ocean on 17 July, 1771, thus establishing that there was no Northwest Passage through Hudson Bay. In spite of the obvious importance of Hearne's expedition, the results were only published in 1795, after La Pérouse had discovered Hearne's manuscript at Hudson Bay. The present Dutch edition was translated from Johann Reinhold Forster's expertly annotated German edition.
Tickets to back pastedowns. Some wear to bindings. An excellent crisp and clean set. Chavanne 4635; JCB 3966; Sabin 31184; cf. Lande, Canadiana 1220 (first edition).