Final answer:
The large white bear on the cover of the first book of the "His Dark Materials" series is known as "The Golden Compass" and represents the alethiometer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The large white bear on the cover of the first book of the "His Dark Materials" series is known as "The Golden Compass". The bear plays a significant role in the story and represents the alethiometer, which is a compass-like device used for divination and truth-telling. It is not represented by a knife, spyglass, or a subtle knife.