The Heart of the Antarctic by Ernest H Shackleton, First Edition (7 results)

First edition, first printing. Two volumes. Publisher's original blue cloth with titles and illustration in silver to the upper board and titles in gilt to the spine, in original dustwrappers. Top edges gilt, the others untrimmed. Illustrated with a photogravure frontispiece to each volume; 12 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 and graphs in the text, including nine full-page. Also three folding maps and one folding plate containing two panoramic views in end-pocket of vol. II. A near fine set, the bindings square, firm and bright with a hint of fading to the very tips of the spine and board edges. The contents, with a touch of tanning to the endpapers, are otherwise remarkably clean and fresh throughout and remain free from inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the very near fine dustwrappers which have some minor wear to the extremities, volume one with a small nick to the foot of the spine panel. A superb set, rare thus. The first trade edition of Shackleton's account of the 'Nimrod' expedition, which he led to the Antarctic in 1907-9. The expedition set a record for the farthest southward reach, making it to the magnetic pole. It also undertook the first ascent of Mount Erebus, discovered the Beardmore Glacier passage (named after Shackleton's patron), and was the first to cross the Trans-Antarctic mountain range, as well as to set foot on the South Polar Plateau. Owing to a lack of rations, the expedition did not ultimately make it to the pole itself, although did come within 100 nautical miles; as Shackleton famously later remarked to his wife: "Better a live donkey than a dead lion". It would be three more years before Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to actually reach the South Pole, followed shortly by Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition. Following the Nimrod expedition, Shackleton returned to Britain a hero, and was knighted for reaching the furthest south of any person to date. An indication of the esteem in which he was held by both colleagues and the public alike is demonstrated by the assertion of Raymond Priestly, the Nimrod expedition's geologist: "For scientific leadership, give me Scott, for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when you are seeing no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton". An outstanding set of one of the greatest literary embodiments of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.

First trade edition, first impression, with the scarce dust jackets remarkably well-preserved. Shackleton's account of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1907-9 (Nimrod) was reviewed on publication by the Manchester Guardian as "the best book of polar travel which has ever been written". The sledge expedition to the south magnetic pole "was one of the three foremost achievements of this expedition. The other two achievements were, first, the ascent and survey of Mount Erebus (12,448 feet), the active volcano on Ross Island and, second, the southern sledge journey, which reached within 100 miles of the south pole" (ODNB). In September 1908 David, MacKay, and Mawson set out for the magnetic pole. The group was weighed down by two sledges carrying heavy equipment and provisions that were man-hauled in relay. Both David and Mawson fell into a crevasse on the journey out and only narrowly escaped death. They reached the magnetic pole in January 1909, calculating their position as 72° 25'S / 155°16'E. David, Mawson, Marshall, Mackay, Adams, and Brocklehurst made a gruelling ascent of Mount Erebus, Antarctica's second highest volcano, in March 1908. The group was inadequately provisioned and equipped but nevertheless successfully made it to the rim of the crater, from where Mawson measured the depth and Marshall determined the altitude. The excursion had been badly organized and resulted in damaged equipment "but it boosted the morale [and] taught some valuable lessons" (Howgego). In October 1908, Shackleton, Adams, Marshall, and Wild set out on their trek to the pole with four pony-drawn sledges. They passed Scott's farthest south in November, which was celebrated with two tablespoons of Curaçao for each member. Weather conditions quickly worsened and in January 1909, to Shackleton's great dismay, the party had to return. They had reached 88° 23'S, 162 East, a new record and only 100 miles from the south pole. During the return journey, the men became emaciated from lack of food and Marshall had grown very ill with dysentery. Shackleton and Wild left Marshall and Adams and set out to Hut Point for help. They returned a week later, and in early March all of the expedition members were back on the Nimrod for the return voyage to England. It is remarkable that all the members of the party survived the ordeal, their survival attributed to Shackleton's exceptional leadership qualities. The British Antarctic Expedition undoubtedly established Shackleton as "a bona-fide English hero" (Books on Ice). Sir Raymond Priestley (1886-1974), a British Geologist and Antarctic explorer who accompanied Shackleton on the 1907-1913 Antarctic expeditions, said, "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". Rosove 305.B1. Books on Ice 7.4; Howgego IV, S20; Taurus 58. The Manchester Guardian, 17 November 1909. 2 volumes, large octavo. Original blue cloth, gilt lettered spines, front covers lettered and with large pictorial block in silver, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. With dust jackets (possibly supplied). With photogravure frontispiece in each volume, 12 colour plates and over 200 plates, folding plate and 3 folding maps in end pocket of vol. II, illustrations and diagrams in the text; errata slip tipped into vol. II. Bindings slightly scuffed, corners and spine ends lightly frayed, spine and boards of vol. I cockled (front inner hinge starting but firm), endpapers toned, scattered foxing; jackets without prices as issued, jacket of vol. I with tissue repair to verso, minor chips and tears to extremities. A very good copy in near-fine jackets.

Hardcover (Original Cloth). Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition. 1st Edition, Association Copy: Ink signature "Charles Swithinbank November 1943" in front end papers, both volumes. Tanning to end papers. Covers worn, stained, fading, shelf wear, spines faded and splitting. Hinge splitting both volumes. Contents clean. Vol I, xlviii, 372 pages, 112 plate leaves, plus 111 diagrams in text; Vol II, xvi, 419 pages, 102 plate leaves, plus 38 diagrams in text; 1 folding page depicting 2 panoramas, 3 folding maps in rear pocket Errata slip tipped in Volume 2. Original blue cloth lettered in silver, silver pictorial vignettes to upper covers and spines, top edges gilt. NOTE: Charles Swithinbank (1926-2014), glaciologist and polar explorer, first visited the Antarctic as a member of the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition 1949-52. Overall he has spent three winters and twenty field seasons in the polar regions, many of them involved with international expeditions. Charles would have only been 17 at this time so this book could have been a birthday present that may have started his lifelong Antarctic career. This is the first UK edition. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 5 kilogram. Category: Arctic & Antarctic; 1900-1920; Exploration. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1066. This is a SET of books, therefore heavier than a standard volume, and will involve extra shipping charges to some countries.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. . . . . First edition 8vo, hardcovers. pictorial blue cloth. Vg+ condition. Spine pictorial inset on Volume I rubbed. Covers and contents clean, unworn, no marking or writing. Bindings square and tight, with no separation at endpaper seams. Pocket map present, rear, Volume II. A very nice copy of this iconic title. Antarctica, Exploration, History,

Hardcover (Original Cloth). Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition. 1st Edition, 2 Volumes; Vol I, xlviii, 372 pages, 112 plates plus 111 diagrams in text; Vol II, xvi, 419 pages, 102 plates plus 38 diagrams in text; 1 folding page depicting 2 panoramas, 3 folding maps in rear pocket as called for. Original covers. Spines softening, covers slightly faded, bumped and marked. Spine on volume 1 slightly split. End papers age toned, contents clean. Odd crack to text block but still in overall tight, clean condition. A very nice set. Shackleton first gained fame as a member of Scott s 1901-2 expedition, and in August 1907 he left London as commander of his own expedition, popularly known as the "Nimrod" Expedition and renowned "for having reached within 97 miles of the South Pole (almost four years before Amundsen and Scott achieved the Pole itself) This expedition established Shackleton as a bona-fide English hero," This is the first UK edition. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 5 kilogram. Category: Arctic & Antarctic; 1900-1920; Exploration. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1072. This book is extra heavy, and may involve extra shipping charges to some countries.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Complete set, though mismatched as to publishers. Original cloth hard covers with titles and illustration blocked in silver. Top edges gilt. Volume I covers moderately worn, with old owner's name inside and inner hinges cracked but holding. Volume II covers worn and faded, and cracked here and there along spine edges. Tanning to edges and endpapers of both volumes. Otherwise still a neat set, with sound bindings. All plates present in each volume, as well as the folded panoramas and three map sheets in the rear pocket of Volume II. liv,366;xvi,419pp. Size: 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Book.

Cloth. Condition: Reading Copy. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition. 1st Edition, VOLUME 2 ONLY Vol II, xvi, 419 pages, 102 plate leaves, plus 38 diagrams in text; Folding panorama is a COPY and the 3 maps in rear pocket are professional coloured COPIES. Original covers. All coloured an b/w plates originals. Ex school library bookplate turned in to presentation plate verso cover, library number to spine, contents clean. Covers faded, fraying, bumped, stained, spine splitting, hinges splitting. A good reading copy This is the first UK edition. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 5 kilogram. Category: Arctic & Antarctic; Exploration. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 3505. This book is extra heavy, and may involve extra shipping charges to some countries.