Memoirs of the Life and Travels of John Ledyard, from His Journals and

[LEDYARD (John)] & SPARKS (Jared).

Memoirs of the Life and Travels of John Ledyard, from His Journals and Correspondence.

First British edition. 8vo. Contemporary green half roan, rubbed head of spine chipped, a few gatherings slightly sprung, 1870 ownership inscription on title, no half-title. [iii–xii], 428pp. London, Henry Colburn, 1828.

£500.00

The New Englander John Ledyard sailed as a marine on Cook’s third voyage and published his Journal of Captain Cook’s Last Voyage to the Pacific in 1783. This expedition accounts for a large proportion of the Memoirs, which then relate his meetings with Thomas Jefferson and Sir Joseph Banks, his travels in Siberia (hoping to cross the Bering Strait to reach Alaska, but arrested by the Russian authorities) and his death in Cairo while planning an expedition for the African Association. “His personality was attractive, even to those who could give him no higher appraisal than that of the mad, romantic, dreaming Ledyard” (DAB, quoted by Lada-Mocarski). The book originally appeared in America as The Life of John Ledyard, the American Traveller, also in 1828.

Forbes, 709; Hill, 1613; Holmes, 86.

Stock No.

216076

Enquire

Memoirs of the Life and Travels of John Ledyard, from His Journals and Correspondence.

Mailing List