South - The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 -
Shackleton
1919 - William Heinemann, London - First Edition, First Impression
A superior example of this 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.
The captivating narrative of Ernest Shackleton's famous “Endurance Expedition," and probably the most evocative narrative of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration, telling of the survival of Shackleton and his crew under the most extreme circumstances.
"I think that though failure in the actual accomplishment must be recorded, there are chapters in this book of high adventure, strenuous days, lonely nights, unique experiences, and above all, records of unflinching determination, supreme loyalty, and generous self- sacrifice on the part of my men which, even in these days that have witnessed the sacrifices of nations and regardless of self on the part of individuals, still will be of interest to readers who now turn gladly from the red horror of war and the strain of the last five years to read, perhaps with more understanding minds, the tale of the White Warfare of the South. The struggles, the disappointments, and the endurance of this small party of British, hidden away for nearly two years in the fastnesses of the Polar ice, striving to carry out the ordained task and ignorant of the crises through which the world was passing, make a story which is unique in the history of Antarctic exploration." — Ernest Shackleton 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: Cordell William Firebrace (1865-1934) with his armourial bookplate engraved in 1912 by William Phillips Barrett, designed by Robert Osmond. Captain Firebrace was born in Australia and moved to England where he joined the 7th Hussars. He eventually became a JP and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1930. He returned to Australia after his father's death in 1903 to take up an inheritance but continued to spend time in England at Elmstone Court in Kent where he built a grotto in 1909. He was related to Sir Henry Firebrace (1619-1691), who had a crest granted in 1677. It was revived in 1911 presumably to adorn this bookplate. The plant on the left is a tree fern and on the right, an oak, to denote Australia and England, respectively’. [ThreeisaCollection.org]
References: Spence, Antarctic Miscellany, 1107. The 'Taurus' Collection - 150 Collectable Books on the Antarctic, 105. Rosove, Antarctica, 308A1.
Octavo (book size 25.6x16.3cm) pp. [2] xxi [1] [errata slip] 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: Fine but for the usual toning to pages, gilt brght and strong, slight variation in top edge tint. Ref: 112362 Price: HK$ 40,000
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.
The captivating narrative of Ernest Shackleton's famous “Endurance Expedition," and probably the most evocative narrative of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration, telling of the survival of Shackleton and his crew under the most extreme circumstances.
"I think that though failure in the actual accomplishment must be recorded, there are chapters in this book of high adventure, strenuous days, lonely nights, unique experiences, and above all, records of unflinching determination, supreme loyalty, and generous self- sacrifice on the part of my men which, even in these days that have witnessed the sacrifices of nations and regardless of self on the part of individuals, still will be of interest to readers who now turn gladly from the red horror of war and the strain of the last five years to read, perhaps with more understanding minds, the tale of the White Warfare of the South. The struggles, the disappointments, and the endurance of this small party of British, hidden away for nearly two years in the fastnesses of the Polar ice, striving to carry out the ordained task and ignorant of the crises through which the world was passing, make a story which is unique in the history of Antarctic exploration." — Ernest Shackleton 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: Cordell William Firebrace (1865-1934) with his armourial bookplate engraved in 1912 by William Phillips Barrett, designed by Robert Osmond. Captain Firebrace was born in Australia and moved to England where he joined the 7th Hussars. He eventually became a JP and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1930. He returned to Australia after his father's death in 1903 to take up an inheritance but continued to spend time in England at Elmstone Court in Kent where he built a grotto in 1909. He was related to Sir Henry Firebrace (1619-1691), who had a crest granted in 1677. It was revived in 1911 presumably to adorn this bookplate. The plant on the left is a tree fern and on the right, an oak, to denote Australia and England, respectively’. [ThreeisaCollection.org]
References: Spence, Antarctic Miscellany, 1107. The 'Taurus' Collection - 150 Collectable Books on the Antarctic, 105. Rosove, Antarctica, 308A1.
Octavo (book size 25.6x16.3cm) pp. [2] xxi [1] [errata slip] 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: Fine but for the usual toning to pages, gilt brght and strong, slight variation in top edge tint. Ref: 112362 Price: HK$ 40,000