Being The Story Of The Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914.
A FINE SET
The Home of the Blizzard Being The Story Of The Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914.
Heinemann, 1915.
Two volumes. First editions. 8vo. Dark blue grained cloth with gilt titles and the silver vignette 'Leaning On The Wind' to upper cover. Top edge blue. Extensively illustrated with 218 plates across both volumes including sepia photographic frontispieces, colour drawings, and autochrome colour and black and white photographs. Thirty-seven maps, charts and sketches throughout the text. Three folding maps in the rear pocket of the second volume. A fine set. The cloth to both volumes is exceptionally clean and bright, uncommonly so. Not a shade of the dulling to the gilt spine lettering often encountered, and internally clean and fresh. A most attractive set, very rarely found in as nice condition as this. Bookplate of E. Lynton Vicars to each pastedown, with a gift inscription to each endpaper.
One of the most important literary and scientific contributions from the heroic age.
Mawson held scientific discovery above the achievement of the South Pole and so when he was invited as geologist to Scott's Terra Nova expedition he declined, choosing instead to lead the Australasian Antarctic Expedition to hitherto unexplored regions of the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Over three years and through extreme weather "the land parties explored nearly 2000 miles of coastline, while sledge parties traversed some 4000 miles in the coastlands and hinterlands, gaining scientific information of great value" (ODNB).
The work ranks highly in the polar canon on both literary and scientific grounds. David and Deidre Stam reckon "Mawson's account of his coastal sledging journey, in which two of his companions died, is without peer among first person accounts of polar adventure", while Rosove notes that "the work emanating from the expedition ranks it as one of the great scientific expeditions of the heroic era".
Rosove 217. Books On Ice 6.9.
Stock ID: 39315
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