[ARTICO - LOVE, Mary (1806?-1866) o LYON, Lucy] - A Peep at the Esquimaux; or, Scenes on the Ice. London: H. R. Thomas, 1825.   A fine copy of a rare first edition of this early Arctic children's book by "A Lady." This work is sometimes attributed to Lucy Lyon, the wife of Captain George Lyon who travelled with Parry, and sometimes to Mary Love, a native Canadian, but both attributions are without firm evidence. According to a 1963 news article, the curator of the Osborne Collection puzzled over the authorship, noting "experts have told us that the Eskimo tools, equipment and dresses are authentic in detail, but we could find no record of a woman travelling to the eastern Arctic during the 1820s" (Cfr. 2017 Christie's catalogue). However, the illustrations are largely based on those of Captain Lyon (Osborne I, 75).   8vo (180 x 114mm). 40 handcoloured illustrations, 20 of which full-page, 4 pages of ads at end (minor offsetting). Fine calf decorated in gilt by R. Wallis, spine tooled within raised borders, red morocco lettering label (minor rubbing).

Estimate € 700 - 1,000

Sold € 1,900