Peary at the North Pole Fact or Fiction
New York: Robert B. Luce, Inc., 1973. Fine in Fine dust-jacket First Edition. [5.75x8.75”]; [6], 7-320 pp., notes, bibliography, index, frontispiece image of Peary, images, maps and facsimiles of Journals in text; Blue cloth covers with silver lettering on spine; White dust jacket with dark blue and white lettering on front and spine over illustration of sailing ship in ice field; minor shelf wear; dust jacket has minor shelf wear to edges. Item #11672
The “first” to the North Pole on land and in the air has been an ongoing controversy since 1909. This book is a critical analysis of the claims of Frederick A. Cook and Robert E. Peary on their over the ice expeditions in 1908 and 1909. It also includes a review of Richard E. Byrd’s claim to have been the first to fly over the North Pole in 1926. Rawlins analysis is based on journals, navigational and scientific records is well done. In the first chapter he states “Historically, the North Pole has been associated with controversy, misunderstanding, and fraud. Why? Partly the explanation is geographical; the North Pole seems some ways virtually designed for hoaxery. There is no fixed land at the spot - only impermanent ice, ever-drifting over a deep ocean...”.
Price: $50.00