The Fur Country – Jules Verne – 1874 | First US Edition, 100 Illustrations

This first American edition of The Fur Country; Or, Seventy Degrees North Latitude by Jules Verne is a prime example of the speculative fiction and scientific adventure for which the author became famous. The narrative follows an expedition by the Hudson’s Bay Company to establish a fort north of the Arctic Circle, when an earthquake leaves them adrift on an iceberg where all laws of physics seem to be altered. The novel explores themes of the illusory permanence of land in the polar regions and colonial geopolitics, and while the tale is one of Verne’s lesser-known works, the story’s environmental undertones have gained renewed relevance amid contemporary climate discourse. Issued just one year after the French original, the text was translated to English by Nancy Bell under the pseudonym N. D’Anvers. Bell’s work, which was occasionally known for taking liberties in interpretation, contributed heavily to the popularity of Verne’s early readership.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Fur Country; Or, Seventy Degrees North Latitude
• Author: Jules Verne
• Contributor: N. D’Anvers (Translator)
• Publisher: Boston: James R. Osgood and Company
• Edition: First US edition, 1874
• Binding: Original green cloth with black and gilt stamping
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~ 8.25in x 6in (21cm x 15.2cm)
• Collation: xiii, [3], 334 pp
• Illustrations: 100 illustrations
• Contents Include:
  • The Hudson’s Bay Fur Company
  • A Wapiti Duel
  • The Arctic Circle
  • The Polar Night
  • The Eclipse of the 18^th June 1860
  • A Floating Fort
  • Across the Ice-Field

Condition:

Good. Binding shows some discoloration to the boards and mild edgewear consistent with age. Interior pages are age-toned and exhibit occasional foxing. While the hinges are intact, the text block is shaken, though all signatures are still bound.

Why Collect This?

• First US edition published during Verne’s lifetime
• Early Boston imprint had a smaller print run than the London edition
• One of Verne’s more obscure works

Item Number: #31142