1876 Rare Book - The English at the North Pole by Jules Verne, Illustrated

Author: Jules Verne.
Title: The English at the North Pole.
Publisher: London and New York, George Routledge and Sons, 1876. 
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 × 5 inches.
Pages: iv, 254 pages + publisher’s advertisements.
Binding: Near fine original rust-colored cloth binding from the “Every Boy’s Library” series, richly decorated in black and gilt. Upper cover with elaborate pictorial design and series banner, spine gilt-lettered with decorative motifs; rear cover blind-stamped with a simple geometric frame (hinges fine - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. An attractive and very well-preserved example of a Victorian publisher’s decorative binding.
Content: Very good, near fine, content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or toning - as shown). 
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous wood-engraved plates depicting Arctic exploration scenes, ships, and dramatic moments from the narrative. All illustrations present and in very good condition.

Estimate: (USD 350–500).

The book: The English at the North Pole is the English-language edition of Jules Verne’s Arctic adventure novel originally published in French as Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras. Blending scientific speculation, geographical fascination, and high adventure, the story follows Captain Hatteras and his crew on a perilous expedition toward the North Pole, reflecting the 19th-century obsession with polar exploration.

This edition belongs to Routledge’s popular “Every Boy’s Library”, a series designed to introduce young readers to adventurous, educational, and morally instructive literature. First issued in English in 1874, the present copy represents a later early printing / edition of the English text, produced in the mid-1870s and housed in one of Routledge’s most visually striking pictorial cloth bindings. The abundant wood engravings enhance the narrative with vivid visual storytelling, capturing the dangers of ice fields, storms, and Arctic travel. 

The author: Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a pioneering French novelist whose works laid the foundations of modern science fiction and adventure literature. Best known for Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, and Around the World in Eighty Days, Verne combined meticulous research with imaginative storytelling. His exploration novels, including The English at the North Pole, reflect both the scientific ambitions and the spirit of discovery that defined the 19th century, securing his enduring influence on popular literature and scientific imagination.