A Series of Fourteen Sketches Made During the Voyage Up Wellington Channel in Search of Sir John Franklin, K.C.H., and the Missing Crews of H.M. Discovery-Ships Erebus and Terror; Together with a Short Account of Each Drawing

London: Day and Son, 1855. Folio. (14 1/2 x 10 7/8 inches). Letterpress title (verso blank), 4pp. text, 1p. List of Subscribers (verso blank). 14 tinted lithographed plates printed by Day & Son on 13 leaves (13 views after May on 12 plates, drawn on stone by by J. Needham [4], Thomas Goldworth Dutton [4] and others), 1 plate of "Franklin Relics brought [home] by Dr. Rae"). Text, original printed paper wrappers. Housed together in a modern half green morocco folding-case.

One of the principal visual records of the search for Franklin and a rare work of Arctic views.

Walter May, a trained marine artist, served as a lieutenant on (truncated) Sir Edward Belcher's expedition on the Assistance, which searched the Wellington Channel between 1852-54 for the missing Franklin. May's Fourteen Sketches provides a spectacular record of this "last of the Arctic voyages" containing accurate and atmospheric images covering many aspects of the expedition. The final plate is of particular interest and is often reproduced as it depicts the Franklin relics which Dr. John Rae bought from an Inuit who had found them at the mouth of the Great Fish River: i.e. the first firm evidence of the fate of Franklin and his men. May retired from the Navy as a Commander in 1854 and went on to a successful career as an artist: the bas-relief on the pedestal of Franklin's statue in Waterloo Place, London, is from his design.

Abbey, Travel II 646; Sabin 47083; Stanton and Tremaine 3454; Bobins 57. (Inventory #: 41977)