1890 Scarce Book - Under the Sea to the North Pole by Pierre Maël

Author: Pierre Maël.
Title: Under the Sea to the North Pole.
Publisher: London, Sampson Low, Marston & Company, St. Dunstan’s House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C. New and Cheaper Edition, no date (1890).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: vi-244 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original striking red pictorial cloth binding, front cover and spine richly illustrated and lettered in black, white, and gilt; rear cover plain (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A rare find in any condition!
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, old bookseller/printer’s label (“H.R. Grubb, Printer and Stationer, Croydon”) on the front pastedown - as shown). 
Illustrations: Complete with 16 beautiful black-and-white illustrations plus the frontispiece, adding charm and drama to this classic Arctic adventure.

Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other copies available for sale worldwide).

The book: A scarce and thrilling 19th-century Arctic exploration novel, Under the Sea to the North Pole by Pierre Maël captures the era’s fascination with polar expeditions and the mysteries of the frozen North. Presented here in its striking illustrated binding, this English edition, with its vivid illustrations, takes the reader on a daring fictional journey beneath icy seas and through treacherous northern landscapes, blending scientific wonder with adventure fiction. A true collector’s piece for enthusiasts of vintage exploration tales, adventure literature, and decorative Victorian bindings.

The author: Pierre Maël was the pseudonym for the French writing duo Charles Vincent and Charles-Henri Dufour, best known for their gripping adventure novels for young readers. Their works, often set against exotic or challenging backdrops, combined moral lessons with captivating narratives. This English translation introduced Maël’s imaginative adventures to a wider audience, cementing his place among the great adventure storytellers of the late 19th century.