Subject: Voyages and travels

A letter from David McConkey to Dr. Isaac Israel Hayes, dated March 1, 1860, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. McConkey thanks Hayes for a copy of his book, likely "An Arctic Boat Journey," published in 1860, and mentions his service as a surgeon in the Grinnell Arctic Expedition (1853-1855).

First American edition of "The Land of Desolation: Being a Personal Narrative of Observation and Adventure in Greenland." Published in 1872. This book recounts Dr. Isaac Israel Hayes's experiences in Greenland, including his time aboard a friend's yacht with the artist William Bradford. Hayes, a Civil War surgeon and participant in the Second Grinnell Arctic Expedition (1853-1855), details his observations and adventures. The book features 40 illustrations. The description also notes that the book draws upon Hayes family papers, diaries from Hayes's expeditions, and other unpublished primary sources, presenting a biography of the explorer, writer, politician, and humanitarian.

This is a presentation copy of Isaac Israel Hayes's account of his 1860-1861 Arctic expedition, published in 1867. Bound in period custom leather, it details Hayes's voyage aboard the schooner United States, his claims of reaching the farthest north land at the time, and his observations on the possibility of an open polar sea. The book includes illustrations and draws upon Hayes's diaries and other primary sources.

This book recounts the voyages of Captain Frances Collins from 1796 to 1801, traveling through Portugal, Spain, Sicily, Malta, Asia Minor, and Egypt. The first American edition, published in Philadelphia in 1809, notably includes a chapter dedicated to the Jewish people, their faith, and their historical survival. The author expresses wonder at the Jews' persistence throughout history, contrasting it with the disappearance of their past oppressors.

This manuscript journal, written by William Nestell between 1816 and 1819, details two voyages: one to San Sebastian, Spain, and Bordeaux, France in 1816; and a second to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1819. The journal provides vivid descriptions of the places visited, insightful commentary on local customs and politics, and a personal account of Nestell's experiences as a sailor. Notably, the journal includes a firsthand account of a violent incident involving a Jewish vendor in Buenos Aires. The journal is bound in contemporary full leather and contains additional pages of poetry.