Title: The South Pole. An Account of the Norwegian ...
Publisher: Toronto : Bell and Cockburn.
Publication Date: 1912
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Very Good
Edition: 1st Edition
2 volumes. xxxv, 392; x, 449 printed pages. Photogravure tissue-guarded, frontispiece to each volume, 92 similar plates, 2 plates of manuscript facsimile, 6 maps and charts (3 folding), 16 charts and tables to the text. Very mild spotting to edge of text block. 18 x 24 cm. Original crimson cloth, embossed colour Norwegian flags to spines and within simple red frame to front boards, top edges gilt, others untrimmed (spines sunned, and slightly rubbed; small stain at foot of volume one; head and tail of spine pushed; corners slightly bumped; boards with some very slight marks and rubs). Overall a complete set in very good condition. This is Amundsen's primary exploration account of his team's attainment of South Pole, December 1911. First edition in English, published in Toronto the year before the New York edition and quite scarce. Amundsen had originally planned an expedition to repeat Nansen's drift with the Fram through the Arctic Ocean, and presumably to try for the north pole, but support for the project fell with the announcement of Cook's & Peary's accomplishments. He then turned toward the south, even though Scott's plans to attempt the south pole were well known, and was severely criticized (mostly in Great Britain) for competing with Scott. The two polar journeys were in marked contrast, and form part of one of the greatest dramas of exploration - Amundsen made the trip with 52 dogs and skis, and with little difficulty, reaching the pole 34 days before Scott, whose entire team perished on return. Amundsen's modest account of his extraordinary South Pole exploit is a classic in the exploration literature. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION -simultaneous with the John Murray edition- (December 1912) of Amundsen's account published before the tragic fate of Captain Scott's rival expedition was publicly known & with a high grade production that improved on the number and quality of plates found in the original Norwegian publication. Rosove 9.A1; Spence 16; Taurus 71. Seller Inventory # 5128