Du Spitzbergen au Sahara. Étapes d'un naturaliste au Spitzberg, en Écosse, en Suisse, en France, en Italie, en Orient, Égypte et en Algerie

Paris: J.B. Baillière, 1865.

First Edition. Original publisher's red cloth with original chromo-lithographed wrappers preserved, gilt lettering to spine, gilt vignette of the Collége de La Rochefoucauld to upper cover. pp xvi, 619, 4 (advertisements), 16 wood engravings; faded on spine, heavy foxing or browning throughout, original photograph of the Collége de Rouchfoucauld tipped-in at dedication leaf together with a presentation inscription in ink hand, not easily decipherable. Loosely in inserted at the front is a typed slip of paper noting the compliments of the Scott Polar Institute, Cambridge, requesting an acknowledge of receipt from Mr Brian Roberts. Martins, a botanist and geologist, was a member of the Commission Scientifique du Nord which in 1838-9 visited Spitzbergen and Lapland aboard the Recherché. Martins on this occasion made the first scientific studies of the glaciers of Spitzbergen. The present work presents some of the scientific findings from this and previous expeditions by Phipps, Parry and others. Martins offers a chapter on the glaciers of the Alps, also describes his 1844 ascent of Mont Blanc and his visits to the Pyrenees, the Middle East, the Sahara and the Shetland Islands.