The Arctic Regions

Originally issued in London in 1873 with a run of only 300 copies, this book chronicles an epic three-month Arctic expedition that Bradford (1823–1892), an accomplished painter, took with two photographers in 1869. The once-rare book is reproduced in its entirety here (albeit at a fourth of the dimensions of the original), published to coincide with an exhibition of the photos at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, and in association with the museum and the Old Dartmouth Historical Society. Whether readers choose to focus on Bradford’s text or the book’s remarkable images, they’re sure to quickly become immersed in the trio’s journey north, as they witness ships mired in ice, numerous icebergs and glaciers, avalanches, and polar bear hunts. They also meet Esquimaux Indians (the photographs include a shot of “the ugliest-looking Esquimaux woman we found”). Though best known for his portraits of ships and the Arctic scenes that inspired him on this trip, Bradford’s crisp Victorian prose is endearing, and he makes for a curious, often enthusiastic guide, frequently taking time to marvel at his surroundings. When combined with the sharp images, the result is a remarkable book that deserves a much wider audience than it originally received. 147 duotone illus. (July)