FRANKLIN (John). NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES OF THE POLAR SEA in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22. London, John Murray, 1823. Fort in-4° of 15-1bl.-783 [1] pages, blond spotted calf, lace framing the boards, wide inner lace, spine ribbed and decorated, yellow edges (later binding). First edition of one of the most chilling journeys ever transcribed, in which many members of the group died of cold, starvation, murder or cannibalism. This famous journey of some 8800 kilometres was made from the Coppermine River, largely by land and canoe, and was intended to map the Arctic coast. The illustration consists of 4 maps, 1 of which is in colour, and 31 SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS, 11 OF WHICH ARE IN COLOUR (landscapes, natives, zoology, botany). From the library of Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby, member of the Order of the Garter, armorial bookplate with the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense". Binding restored, transfer of plates on a few pages, otherwise a fine copy, internally very fresh (Chadenat, 7007).