About Chet Ross Rare Books

Chet Ross Rare Books specializes in rare books related to exploration and discovery with a special focus on Exploration of the Polar Regions — including first person narratives and scientific research. I sell to and purchase from collectors, book sellers, public and private institutions, museums and libraries. Also, upon evaluation, we accept books for consignment.

Chet Ross Rare Books is located in the Seattle, Washington area on Puget Sound, and I encourage interested parties to contact me to inquire about books and/or to arrange an appointment to view my stock.

Featured Books

Antarctic Days

Sketches of the Homely Side of Polar Life by Two of Shackleton’s Men

By James Murray and George Marston

Signed by James Murray, George Marston and Ernest Shackleton

Illustrated by the authors and introduced by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Andrew Melrose, London, 1913. First Edition, Deluxe Issue with Publisher’s Dust Jacket, 4to, [xxi], 199pp. Publisher’s blue pictorial cloth featuring mounted image of iceberg ruled in gilt, bright gilt lettering on spine and cover, top edges gilt, 4 mounted coloured plates, 37 illustrations on 29 mono plates, 12 full-page drawings; 2 smaller b/w drawings in text. Signed by James Murray, George Marston and by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

— Renard 1121; Spence 830; Taurus 61; Rosove 236.A1.a.1

A unusually well preserved copy in Near Fine condition with Near Fine dust jacket lettered in gilt. A very clean copy with no foxing, folds or tears, and no prior ownership markings. Limited to 280 copies with this being copy #14 of 280. Copies with the dust jacket are especially hard to find. Rosove identifies two states of the dust-wrapper, this copy being an example of Rosove’s first state.

“…, a fine complement to the two giants of the Antarctic Bibliography also emanating from Shackleton’s 1907-09 expedition, Aurora Australis and The Heart of the Antarctic, and one of the most sought-after Antarctic titles” (Rosove). “Written with a good deal of jocularity, it gives us a feeling for the personal side of Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition”.

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Voyages from Montreal, on the River St. Laurence, through the Continent of North America, to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans.

In the Years 1789 and 1793 with a Preliminary account of the rise, progress, and the present state of the Fur Trade of that Country.

By Alexander Mackenzie, Esq.

London: T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, 1801. First Edition. 4to (270 x 205 mm). [4pp], vii, cxxxii, 412, [2pp]. with Half-title page, Errata bound at rear. Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait of the author, three folding maps with some hand-coloring. Period full tree calf leather, gilt-lettering on black on spine, front exterior hinge beginning to crack, internal hinge split but tight. Maps with small closed tear at lower hinge, offset from frontispiece, maps and internal pages are very clean. An unusually clean and complete copy of one of the landmarks of North American exploration.

—Brunet III, cols 1280-1281; Cox II, pp. 177-178; Hill 1063; Howes M-133; Lowndes p. 1439; Sabin 43414; Wagner-Camp 1.

Mackenzie’s first account of a North American transcontinental crossing. An important and accurate source on the fur trade and on the Indian languages and customs of the region. The work includes accounts of two expeditions: the first in 1789 from Fort Chipeway to the Arctic Sea and the second in 1792 from the New Establishment on the Peace River to the Pacific Ocean.

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A Voyage Round the World;

but more particularly to the North-West Coast of America: performed in 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788 in the King George and Queen Charlotte, Captains Portlock and Dixon.

By Nathaniel Portlock

London: For George Stockdale and George Goulding, 1789 First edition. 4to (11 3/4 x 9 in.; 298 x 229 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait, 13 engraved plates including 5 handcolored plates of birds, 6 folding maps and charts; light offsetting to maps, Full calf with six raised bands on spine and gilt titles, marbled endpapers. A very clean and complete copy.

— Ayer/Zimmer 495; Forbes, Treasures of Hawaiian History 7; Hill (2004) 1376; Howes P497; Sabin 64389

The King George’s Sound Company, which had exclusive trading privileges on the Northwest Coast, engaged Captains Portlock and Dixon for the purpose of pursuing the lucrative fur trade in that region. The company purchased two vessels which left England in September 1785. After stopping in at the Falkland Islands, the two ships put in for a long stay in the Hawaiian Islands. Both Portlock and Dixon had accompanied Captain Cook on his third voyage, and they were the first foreign captains to visit the islands after his death. The official account of the voyage includes ornithological and zoological observations as well as the first description of the native life along the southern coast of Oahu. The account includes a plate of the white tern of the Sandwich Islands, which bears the distinction of being the first published depiction of a Hawaiian bird (Forbes). After departing the islands, the two vessels sailed to America where they surveyed the coast, producing the most important results of the voyage.

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The Quadrupeds of North America

By John James Audubon

New York: V. G. Audubon, 1851; 1852; 1854. Royal Octavo. 155 hand-colored lithographed plates. Period black half morocco and marbled boards, spine with 5 bands and bright gilt titles, marbled endspages, all page edges bright gilt. Tight uncracked hinges, no prior ownership markings. Internally with original tissue guards and ribbon markers. Plates bright and clean — an unusually clean set. Volume III has a different color, although similar patterned, marble cover. This set includes the half title page in Volume III, plus the often missing plates 124 and 151 through 155. A very well preserved set in Near Fine condition inside and out. All volumes housed in a three compartment slipcase.

— Nissen, ZBI 163; Bennett p.5; Nissen ZBI 162; Sabin 2367.

The product of the famed collaboration between John Aububon and his sons, John Woodhouse and Victor Gifford, and the Lutheran minister John Bachman. They traveled through much newly explored North American territory, illustrating many species that are scarce or endangered today. Beautiful hand-colored stone lithographic plates of hares, squirrels, buffalo, wolves, deer, grizzly bears, etc. Victor G. Audubon published the first three volume royal octavo editions.

With: Extract letter from The Secretary of State, Hon. N.P. Banks including a letter by V.G. Audubon, March 21, 1856.

Volume I: New York: V. G. Audubon, 1852. [viii], 383pp. Index. 50 hand colored stone lithographs.

Volume II: New York: V. G. Audubon, 1851. 334pp., Index, List of Subscribers [1pp]. 50 hand colored stone lithographs.

Volume III: New York: V. G. Audubon, 1854. [v[, 348pp., Index. 55 hand colored stone lithographs.

First royal octavo edition was issued 1849-1854, with title page variants for Volume I including 1849, 1850, and 1851. First issues of Volume II and Volume III were 1851 and 1854 respectively. Dates of other editions are confusing and often overlap with one another. Among the dates suggested in standard references for later editions are the following: 1852-1854, 1854-1855, 1856, and 1860. It is generally agreed that the New York firm of George R. Lockwood published one or more later editions, one being dated 1870 and another in 1871.

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History Of The Indian Tribes Of North America, ...

Embellished With One Hundred And Twenty Portraits From The Indian Gallery In The Department Of War, At Washington.

By Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall

Philadelphia, Rice & A.N. Hart, 1858, Octavo Edition. 3 Volumes, Royal Octavo, 1 p.l., 2, iii-iv, 3-333p.; xvii, [1], 9-290 p.; iv, 17-392 p. 3 colour frontis plates and 120 hand-coloured lithographic portrait plates, full embossed publisher’s leather bindings with 5 raised bands and titles in gilt. Exterior hinge of volume 3 reinforced, spine tips chipped on volumes 1 (slight) and 2. Internally some foxing and offsetting, all original tissue guards in place, no prior ownership or institutional markings, interior hinges reinforced and tight, upper tip. A Very Good and complete set of a most important publication.

— Howes M129; Sabin 43410a/43411; Field 992

The History of the Indian Tribes of North America is arguably the most important pre-photographic record of vanished Native Americans. A spectacular series of images joins a splendid historical account of the various tribes of North America, making McKenney and Hall’s three-volume set a classic work of Americana and Native Americana. The folio and octavo editions are particularly vital in their "faithful recording of the features and dress of celebrated American Indians who lived and died long before the age of photography" (McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery, 23).

Originally issued in folio size in 1837-1844, the McKenney & Hall History of the Indian Tribes of North America was a scientific success, but its large size and significant cost meant that it was not a financial success for Thomas McKenney. In order to try to generate extra income, McKenney had the portraits and text issued in this smaller octavo size that was both more practical and affordable. The work came out in several editions from 1842 to 1870. The prints from the early editions (1842-58), have the imprint of either J.T. Bowen or D. Rice & A.N. Hart. Later edition prints (1865-70) were redrawn on stone and have a Rice, Rutter & Co. imprint.

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The Birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australasian South Polar Quadrant

with additions to "The Birds of Australia”

By GREGORY M. MATHEWS

London, H.F. & G. Witherby. October 16th, 1928. First Edition. Folio (14’ x 10”), [xii], 139pp., Index. Publisher’s soft cover wraps in Very Good condition. " 45 plates of which 38 are hand-colored and are by H. Gronvold and F.W. Frohawk, 7 plates are full page black and white. Edges un-cut; internally a Fine copy with errata bound in at Preface. Collated complete; slight wear to top and bottom of spine. This Very Scarce publication was strictly limited to 225 numbered copies of which this is No. 2.

Well preserved in custom claim shell box with bright gilt titles on spine.