The South Polar Times

London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1907–14, 1907. 3 Volumes, Quarto - 4to - 28.2 cm. Publisher's original navy-blue ribbed cloth, titles in bright gilt to spines and upper boards, inset coloured pictorial decoration to upper boards within gilt rope-twist borders, all edges bright gilt. Profusely illustrated with chromolithographic and black-and-white plates by Edward Wilson and others of the expedition with several being some mounted, numerous photographs by Herbert Ponting, illustrations in text including caricatures and silhouettes of expedition members. Collation is complete as per Rosove 287.A1. A remarkably well-preserved set. No prior ownership markings, no restoration, binding firm and secure. Volumes I and II limited to 250 copies, these both numbered 213, and Volume III limited to 350, this unique volume is unnumbered and penned "Presentation Copy". This is a very well-preserved set housed in individual custom slip cases. No loose pages or cracked hinges as is typically found with this production. All volumes in Near Fine condition, complete and suitable for a serious collection. The South Polar Times was an exact reproduction of the original which appeared month by month during the winters of 1902 and 1903, edited by Sir Ernest Shackleton and Louis Bernacchi, with articles, stories, poems and drawings supplied by various members of the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04, aka Robert Falcon Scott's "Discovery" expedition, and edited by Cherry-Garrard, with contributions from members of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-13. This is an excellent set of volumes of this important record of the human side of life and existence during the Heroic Era of south polar exploration. Very Scarce. Books on Ice 7.7; Spence 1094; Taurus 42 & 79; Rosove 287.A1 for Volumes 1 and 2; Rosove 291.A2b for Volume 3.