High Failure: Solo Along the Arctic Air Route.

GRIERSON, John. Introduction by Wolfgang von Gronau.

$975.00

Item Number: 111250

London: William Hodge & Company, Limited, 1936.

First edition of English Aviator John Grierson’s account of his solo trip along the Arctic Air Route. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Associtation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, “To Chief Factor Ralph Parsons with best wished John Grierson 15/11/36.” The recipient, Ralph Parsons was a Canadian Arctic explorer and fox fur trader who played an important role in the development of early trading posts around Hudson Strait, particularly on the south shore of Baffin Island. He was named Fur Trade Commissioner in 1931 and the posts he founded across the Arctic largely contributed to the establishment of permanent communities in many northern locations, and reinforced Canada’s claims of sovereignty over these territories. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fosset was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. In near fine condition.

English long-distance flier and author John Grierson was the first solo pilot to fly along the Arctic Air Route from Great Britain, via Greenland, to Canada. This first hand account tells of his crash in Iceland, and of his second, successful attempt to make the voyage.