First edition, deluxe issue, number 139 of 300 copies signed in The Atlantic Book by the author and all fifteen other members of the shore party. Three volumes. 4to. Volumes One and Two in the original publisher's white vellum with gilt titles and vignettes. Volume Three, "The Antarctic Book" quarter vellum over grey paper boards, in the usual 2nd (corrected) state, where the contents page is without reference to "Aurora Australis". Top edges gilt and others untrimmed, brown silk page markers present. Two tipped-in photogravure frontispieces and twelve tipped-in colour plates after paintings by George Marston, all with captioned tissue guards, four double-page photographic plates, 271 photographic illustrations on 195 plates, diagrams, maps, plans & graphs in the text, including nine full-page, three folding maps and one folding plate containing two panoramic views in end-pocket of vol. II; The Antarctic Book with four mounted colour portraits from crayon drawings and six original etchings by George Marston. A superb, near fine set. The vellum bindings in particularly clean condition with just a couple of marks to the rear panel of vol I and some pale mottling to the upper cover of vol II. Internally fresh, with a little foxing to some plates in The Atlantic Book. A most handsome set.

Shackleton's famous account of the Nimrod expedition, which he lead to the South Pole in 1907-09, and in this issue one of the most handsome and impressive of all polar books. The expedition got within some hundred miles of the Pole, whereupon Shackleton gave the quest up famously claiming, "Better a live donkey than a dead lion.", but it established Shackleton as a "bona fide English hero" (Books on Ice). A measure of the regard in which Shackleton was held can be gathered from the quote attributed to Raymond Priestley, who accompanied Shackleton on this and future expeditions, "For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton."
Members of the Expedition whose signatures are present are: Ernest Shackleton, leader of the expedition; Sir Philip Brocklehurst, geologist, and in charge of current observations; Bernard Day, electrician and motor expert; Ernest Joyce, in charge of general stores, dogs, sledges and zoological collections; Dr. A. F. Mackay, surgeon; Dr. Eric Marshall, surgeon, cartographer; G E. Marston, artist; James Murray, biologist; Raymond Priestley, geologist; William Roberts, cook; Frank Wild, in charge of provisions; Aeneas Lionel Acton Mackintosh, second officer; Bertram Armitage ; William C. Roberts, cook; Edgeworth David, geologist; Douglas Mawson, physicist.

Stock ID: 32690