Travel, Exploration and James Cook from Antiquariat Eigl

Item 54 is the first English edition of A Voyage round the World, in the Years 1803-(06), performed by order of his Imperial Majesty Alexander the First, Emperor of Russia, in the ship Neva, published in 1814. The author is Urey Lisiansky, who commanded the Neva. That was the other ship on Krusenstern's voyage. Krusenstern led the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe. Though setting out together, there were differences in the intended routes of Krusenstern and Lisiansky. Lisiansky visited Easter Island alone, and spent more time in Hawaii and Alaska. He was present for the retaking of a Russian fort from the Tlingit Indians. The Neva returned home first, making Lisiansky the first Russian to actually complete a circumnavigation, though credit is generally given Krusenstern as commander of the overall mission. €37,000 (US $48,690).

Item 26 is an illustrated cloth handkerchief celebrating the attempt to reach the North Pole by Swedish balloonist Saloman August Andrée. It includes images of Andrée and his two companions, the balloon, sledges, polar bears, a map of the region, and similar related scenes. It was designed to be waved goodbye as the explorers embarked, and to welcome them home when they returned. Neither was necessary. Unfavorable winds forced Andrée to call off his mission in 1896. However, the following year, he would return to again attempt to be the first to reach the North Pole. Conditions were again less than favorable, and one of his original participants backed out, concluding the balloon was not suitable. Unfortunately, Andrée had too much invested, both in terms of publicity and investors' money, to back down again. Despite immediate problems, they took off, and their fate remained unknown for 30 years. Evidently, winds pushed them far off course, and after about 300 miles in the air, the balloon was forced down on pack ice. They attempted to make their way back to safety, but the drifting ice pulled them away and they all perished, their bodies not discovered until 1930. €1,400 (US $1,842).

Antquariat Eigl may be reached at (0049) (0)8031 / 33504 or RalfEigl@t-online.de. Their website is found at www.AntiquariatEigl.de.