A large volume bound in half leather and cloth, with five raised bands to spine and gilt titles in one compartment, marbled edges and endpapers. Ex-library, with library reference on the spine and on several preliminary pages, including the title page, and library bookplate on first page. Significant rubbing to the leather covering, the cloth has however fared rather better. The binding itself remains strong, with hinges secure. The contents of the book remain bright and fresh (apart from the library markings already noted). Frontispiece and twenty-five further plates, all present and secure, all with tissue-guards in place, and all in excellent condition. Two maps, as called for: the first a six-leaf fold-out chart of the North Polar Sea, excellent again apart from a closed tear (approx. 2.5 inches) across the printed part from the right edge; the second a three-leaf fold-out route map of the Franklin and Nares expeditions, this map with a few creases, plus some fraying and discol