Author: [MANUSCRIPT - DUTCH - ARCTIC REGION].
Title: [Anonymous eyewitness travel report of a journey to the Arctic region in search of good waters for whaling].[ca. 1790]. 4to. Manuscript written in Dutch in black ink in one clear, although not very sophisticated, hand on paper (sheets varying in origin and size ca. 20-21 x 14-16 cm). Modern artificial brown leather, marbled pastedowns, with the late-18th-century decorated paper wrappers bound in.
Description: [17] ll.Fascinating travel report including short descriptions of the northern regions of Europe and America which were visited by the anonymous Dutch author, probably to explore the possibilities for whaling. They also shortly described the fish stocks (especially of whales) and birds to be found in the waters of these Northern and Arctic regions.The first part of the report (titled "de noorder poolanden [!] America") starts with a history of the Northwest Passage and the expeditions explorers undertook in order to find a waterway through the Arctic, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.Following the description of the Northwest Passage, the manuscript contains a description of Norway’s flora and fauna, its fishery and fishing industry, followed by a description of the Baltic Sea and Lapland, including a list of 19 fishes living in that sea. Greenland is treated next, with the author referring to the famous scholarly work Fauna Groenlandica (1780). The anonymous author of the present manuscript tells us about his encounters with indigenous peoples of the Arctic and subarctic regions, the various whales, narwhals, seals etc., about whaling, huge icebergs, the climate, John Davis’ explorations in 1585-1587, flora, fauna including polar bears, and concluding with a list of the land- and water-birds.Several leaves have been reinforced in the gutters with strips of paper in order to be able to bind them. The original paper wrappers are slightly rubbed, the uneven edges of the leaves are slightly frayed and the bottom outer corner of the leaves shows a light water stain. Otherwise in good condition.

Keywords: [E5FB9A6D8BD3] AMERICAS|[E5FB9A6D8BD3] AMERICAS -> [EDC41B17C95F] Canada & Greenland|[G8L04JB1BVED] MARITIME HISTORY|[G8L04JB1BVED] MARITIME HISTORY -> [HAEFEM3FN4CZ] Fishery & Whaling|[5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY|[5091845FC46C] NATURAL HISTORY -> [79AA