Item 105 is the Expedition scientifique de Moree, or the Scientific Expedition to Morea in English. Morea is a part of ancient Greece, and in 1829, the French undertook both military and scientific missions to the area at the time of the Greek War of Independence. The French were helping the Greeks break free of the Ottoman Empire, but also undertook major scientific and cultural studies. The author of this three-volume study, published in 1831, was Guilleme-Abel Blouet, head of fine arts research. They did much in terms of archeological research at a time when little had been done to verify ancient Greek history. £22,500 (US $36,571).

 

Item 30 is Frederick Cook's Through the first Antarctic night 1898-1899; A narrative of the voyage of the "Belgica"… Cook is a controversial figure in Arctic exploration. A decade later he would claim to be the first to reach the North Pole, a claim almost no one believes today, and his claim to have scaled Alaska's Mt. McKinley is also widely disbelieved. However, his participation in the first Belgian expedition was brave and honorable, and won him the lifelong admiration of fellow participant Roald Amundsen, who unquestionably was the first to reach the South Pole. Offered is a copy of the 1900 author's signed limited edition. £2,750 (US $4,470).

 

Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books may be reached at +44 (0)20 7493 0876 or rarebooks@shapero.com. Their website is www.shapero.com.