The Voyage of the "Scotia". Being a Record of the Voyage of Exploration in the Antarctic Seas - Signed Copy

Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1906. First edition. Presentation copy, signed on the half-title to his fellow Scottish scientist; "To John Mathieson Esq. thanking him for much valuable help in Polar Research & in token of friendship from Wm. S. Bruce...1 January 1910. Edinburgh". With a loosely inserted folded sheet of cream paper printed "With The Directors' Compliments. Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory, Edinburgh."

The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902 was lead by William Speirs Bruce who had just turned down Capt. Scott's invitation to be the naturalist on the Discovery expedition. The expedition conducted the first oceanographic exploration of the Weddell Sea and discovered the northern part of the Caird Coast. Bruce refused to write the popular account, and "instead the authorship of a popular narrative was taken up by three of the scientific staff, who wrote this outstanding account." (Rosove).

In 1909, John Mathieson served as chief surveyor on the Scottish scientific expedition to Svalbard, led by William Bruce. The expedition was sponsored partly by Prince Albert of Monaco to continue the survey of Prins Karls Forland begun by Bruce, and partly by the Scottish Spitsbergen Syndicate, to examine the company's mineral claims there and in the Isfjorden region. Mathieson led the surveying party on Prins Karls Forland, and during the summer completed Bruce's survey, leaving only some details for later verification or amendment. (Scott Polar Institute).

Spence 193. Rosove 50.A1. Royal 8vo, (xxiv) 375 pp., 59 plts. and 3 maps. Original pictorial covers w/ some wear & bumped at corners, the white title on the spine faded, white title and illustrations on the cover slightly rubbed but overall intact. Fold. map w. sml. tears at hinge o/w internally clean, tight & sound. Overall a very nice desirable copy in Good+ condition. Items signed by Bruce are uncommon.