Rare, c.19th hand coloured lithograph map of the ancient and modern navigations from North America through to Greenland.
Sir John Ross’s second expedition in search of the Northwest Passage stands as a significant episode in the history of c.19th Arctic exploration. The voyage formed part of a broader imperial and commercial ambition to identify a navigable sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the polar regions, a goal that had long attracted been sought. Undertaken after official naval support had been withdrawn, Ross’s expedition assumed the character of a private venture, yet it retained considerable scientific and geographical importance.
The expedition had a prolonged engagement with the Arctic environment, where extreme cold, ice-bound seas, and logistical uncertainty imposed constant strain upon the crew. Despite these formidable conditions, the expedition achieved notable successes, most prominently the identification of the Northern Magnetic Pole by James Clark Ross, who served as second-in-command. This discovery represented a major advancement in contemporary understanding of terrestrial magnetism and had important implications for navigation. In addition to its scientific achievements, the expedition contributed to the growing body of ethnographic knowledge concerning the Arctic. Sustained contact with Inuit communities enabled the documentation of local customs, technologies, and survival strategies, offering valuable insights into Indigenous lifeways. These interactions, while shaped by the asymmetries of imperial exploration, nonetheless formed an important component of the expedition’s legacy.
Although the Northwest Passage itself remained elusive, Ross’s second voyage occupies an important place in the history of exploration. Its combination of scientific inquiry, geographical investigation, and cross-cultural encounter reflects the broader intellectual and strategic priorities that defined Arctic exploration in the nineteenth century.
From: Sir John Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833. Published A. W. Webster, London
References:
Abbey, J.R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860. London 1972: 636.
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967 : 73381.
Collections:
David Rumsey Collection: List No: 14297.000
National Library Australia: Bib ID: 6849313
Met Museum New York: Object Number: 66.723.1
Royal Collection Trust UK: RCIN 1024387
University of Glasgow:: Sp Coll Hunterian Bq.2.6
Princeton University Library: RB Division
National Maritime Museum Greenwich: 850
Huntington Library: Call number 351937
Yale University Library & Art Gallery: G650 1829 .R8
