South - The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 -
Sir Ernest Shackleton
1919 - William Heinemann, London - First Edition, First Impression
A legendary account of leadership. It was on this expedition that the marooned Shackleton made his famous voyage in a 22-foot boat with five companions through 800 miles of some of the stormiest seas in the world, finally reaching South Georgia and a Norwegian whaling station [Spence].
With 86 full page plates, and large folding map to the rear, many classic photographs existing only due to the stubbornness of Hurley, Shackleton’s photographer, in refusing to leave the plates behind to conserve energy and food.
An exceptionally fine and thus scarce first edition of this large book that is notorious for its poor quality of paper and binding, the silver to spine and covers is bright and sharp, paper toned as is usually the case. Housed in a bespoke blue solander slipcase. Shackleton embarked in 1914 on the Endurance to make the first traverse of the Antarctic continent; a journey of some 1800 miles from sea to sea. But 1915 turned into an unusually icy year in Antarctica; after drifting trapped in the ice for nine months, the Endurance was crushed in the ice on October 27.
Shackleton now showed his supreme qualities of leadership. With five companions he made a voyage of 800 miles in a 22-foot boat through some of the stormiest seas in the world, crossed the unknown lofty interior of South Georgia, and reached a Norwegian whaling station on the north coast. After three attempts, Shackleton succeeded (30 August 1916) in rescuing the rest of the Endurance party and bringing them to South America.
All members of the Endurance party survived. A fate not similarly shared by Scott in his attempt to reach the pole. [DNB]
Provenance: 'J. Liddle, 1921' inscribed to the front free endpaper.
References: Spence, Antarctic Miscellany, 1107. The 'Taurus' Collection - 150 Collectable Books on the Antarctic, 105.
Octavo (book size 25.6x16.3cm) pp. [2] xxi [1] 376. In publisher’s navy blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, front panel with image of the ‘Endurance’ and lettering blocked in silver, rear panel with publisher’s logo blocked in blind, top edge tinted blue. Condition: Near fine, toning to pages, small repair to folding map, cloth bright with silver sharp and without the usual rubbing. Ref: 111922 Price: HK$ 50,000
With 86 full page plates, and large folding map to the rear, many classic photographs existing only due to the stubbornness of Hurley, Shackleton’s photographer, in refusing to leave the plates behind to conserve energy and food.
An exceptionally fine and thus scarce first edition of this large book that is notorious for its poor quality of paper and binding, the silver to spine and covers is bright and sharp, paper toned as is usually the case. Housed in a bespoke blue solander slipcase. Shackleton embarked in 1914 on the Endurance to make the first traverse of the Antarctic continent; a journey of some 1800 miles from sea to sea. But 1915 turned into an unusually icy year in Antarctica; after drifting trapped in the ice for nine months, the Endurance was crushed in the ice on October 27.
Shackleton now showed his supreme qualities of leadership. With five companions he made a voyage of 800 miles in a 22-foot boat through some of the stormiest seas in the world, crossed the unknown lofty interior of South Georgia, and reached a Norwegian whaling station on the north coast. After three attempts, Shackleton succeeded (30 August 1916) in rescuing the rest of the Endurance party and bringing them to South America.
All members of the Endurance party survived. A fate not similarly shared by Scott in his attempt to reach the pole. [DNB]
Provenance: 'J. Liddle, 1921' inscribed to the front free endpaper.
References: Spence, Antarctic Miscellany, 1107. The 'Taurus' Collection - 150 Collectable Books on the Antarctic, 105.
Octavo (book size 25.6x16.3cm) pp. [2] xxi [1] 376. In publisher’s navy blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, front panel with image of the ‘Endurance’ and lettering blocked in silver, rear panel with publisher’s logo blocked in blind, top edge tinted blue. Condition: Near fine, toning to pages, small repair to folding map, cloth bright with silver sharp and without the usual rubbing. Ref: 111922 Price: HK$ 50,000