Spitzbergen
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Spitzbergen. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean, north of Norway, in latitude 76 deg. 80' N. The islands were discovered by Dutch sailors in 1596. The name is derived from a number of sharp-pointed mountains. The total area of the group is about 27,000 square miles. The coasts resemble those of Norway, being deeply cut by fiords. The interior is occupied by glaciers. Tourist steamers call regularly during the summer season. The midnight sun hangs even higher here than in northern Norway. It remains above the horizon for a period of over four months. The islands are frequented by walrus and whale hunters, but are not permanently inhabited. The climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream . There are about 100 flowering plants. Foxes, polar bears, and reindeers are found. Walruses and seals inhabit the coast. The rocky cliffs are occupied by myriads of sea fowl. Spitzbergen forms the basis from which Nordenskjold and other Arctic explorers have set out. The islands are said to contain valuable deposits of coal and of marble. Counsul-General Henry Bordewich, writing from Christiania, Norway (1908), says: Game, such as reindeer, polar bears, ptarmigan, geese, ducks, and other birds are still fairly plentiful in the islands, but, as no one is in control, the animals are being wantonly exterminated, being killed at all seasons of the year. One of the visitors up there last summer reports that a party of tourists killed upwards of 100 reindeer, leaving the carcasses where they fell, only bringing away with them a few of the finest heads and antlers for mounting. The eider duck is so tame while hatching that it often may be lifted by hand while the nest is robbed of down and eggs. It is stated that the walrus, white whale, seal, polar bear, reindeer, and birds are being hunted at all seasons and soon will become extinct.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a group of three large and several small islands in the lat. 76° 30′ and Arctic Ocean; between 22° E.; nearly 80° 40′ N.; lon. 9° and Greenland and Nova equidistant between being West Spitz- Zembla, the largest Land. Total area bergen and Northeast coasts about 27,000 square miles. The glaciers and mountain present immense 4,000 feet chains, some of which exceed intensely cold; in height. The climate is to a few and vegetation is confined For four plants of rapid growth. months in winter the sun is below the equal period in sumhorizon, and for an above the horizon. mer the sun is always life are foxes The larger forms of animal , sea fowl are bears, and reindeer, while islands are rich in coal. numerous. The tons were In 1918 more than 100,000 ports alone shipped to Scandinavian . been_discov- The group appears to have , the English ered in 1553 by Willoughby visited in 1596 navigator, and was again Barentz in enby the Dutch navigator a N. E. passage to deavoring to effect explorers are India. Among the later , Andreasen, Leigh Smith, Nordenskjöld Svordrup. Un- Johannesen, Nansen, and in 1918 the til the World War ended was unpolitical status of Spitzbergen of Brest-Litovsk defined. The treaty and Bolshe- (1917) between Germans proposed to vists disclosed that Germany Great Britain therecontrol the islands. despatched fore in the summer of 1918 Ernest Shacklean expedition under Sir ton to seize the German coal fields, which were thenceforth worked in the interests of Great Britain. In 1919 the Supreme Council in Paris granted Norway suzerainty over the archipelago. American holdings were sold to Europeans.