[Rarebooks] FS: A. W. Greely's Copy of Mackenzie's VOYAGES FROM MONTREAL, 1801

[Charles Agvent]

MACKENZIE, Alexander [GREELY, A. W.]. VOYAGES FROM MONTREAL ... TO THE 
FROZEN AND PACIFIC OCEANS... London: Cadell & Davies, 1801. First 
Edition. Quarto, bound in modern buckram; [4] viii, cxxxii, 412 pages + 
errata leaf. Field 967: "No writer upon the subject of Indian customs 
and peculiarities has given us a more minute, careful and interesting 
relation"; Hill, pp. 187-88: "This is the first and finest edition of 
one of the most important of Canadian books"; Howes M-133; New Howes 
M-133 "dd": "First crossing of the continent from ocean to ocean by a 
white man.... The account of the fur trade--first ever published--is 
attributed to Roderick Mackenzie"; Wagner-Camp 1: "Mackenzie was the 
first white man to cross the continent, and his journal of this 
expedition is of surpassing interest"; Wheat 251. One of the greatest 
books in the field of Travel and Exploration and a classic of Canadiana 
and Western Americana, this copy lacks the half title, as usual, and 
also the three maps which are represented by reduced blueprint copies 
provided by a previous owner, the famous Polar explorer and winner of 
the Congressional Medal of Honor, Adolphus W. Greely, whose bookplate 
graces the front pastedown. Greely has also made brief notes or marks on 
four pages. A lackluster copy, certainly, but with a distinguished 
provenance linking one of the greatest explorers of the 18th century to 
one of the greatest of the 19th century. Paper evenly browned. Good copy 
with a wonderful association.
Adolphus W. Greely, the Signal Corps' fifth Medal of Honor winner began 
his life of service on some of the Civil War's bloodiest battlefields - 
Balls Bluff, Antietam and Fredericksburg. After rising from Private to 
Sergeant in the 19th Massachusetts, Greely accepted a commission in the 
81st Colored Troops in 1863.

Lieutenant Greely, Regular Army, saw frontier service in places like 
Wyoming and Utah. In his spare time, he studied telegraph and 
electricity. The training served him well when he was detailed to the 
Signal Corps in 1867.

After serving as a "trouble-shooter" in the construction of frontier 
telegraph lines, Greely volunteered in 1881, to lead an Arctic weather 
expedition. On a three year stint to Ellesmere Island near the north 
pole, Greely's party amassed a great deal of data on Arctic Weather and 
tidal conditions, but was almost wiped out when relief ships failed to 
reach them for two successive summers. When they were finally rescued on 
22 June 1884, nineteen of Greely's 25-man crew had perished from 
starvation, drowning, hypothermia, and in one case, gunshot wounds from 
an execution ordered by Greely. The survivors were themselves near 
death, and one did die on the homeward journey. The returning survivors 
were venerated as heroes, though the heroism was tainted by sensational 
accusations of cannibalism during the remaining days of low food.

In 1887 President Grover Cleveland advanced Greely from rank of Captain 
to Brigadier General with his Appointment as Chief Signal Officer. In 
the following years, Greely's innovation led to the military use of 
wireless telegraphy, the airplane, the automobile and other modern devices.

Greely retired in 1908. After a trip around the world, he helped found 
the National Geographic Society and the first free public library in 
Washington, D.C.

On his 91st birthday, March 27, 1935, Greely was presented with a 
special Medal of Honor for "his life of splendid public service." Greely 
died the following October and was buried with full honors in Arlington 
National Cemetery. (#007254)        $1,500.00

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/007254.JPG

-- 

All books subject to prior sale. Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed. Postage additional: $10.00 for the first item; $5.00 for each 
thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and 
Discover accepted. Books may be returned within 10 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value. We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Signed Books, Presidential Autographs, 
Illustrated Books, and the world's largest inventory of Limited Editions 
Club books. *We have been in business since 1987 and are proud to be 
members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and 
the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).* Please feel 
free to contact us with any wants or offerings. Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA 19539-8750
610-682-4750
info at charlesagvent.com
Please visit our shop: http://www.charlesagvent.com