Scott's Last Expedition (First Edition)

The official account of Scott's second and last polar expedition. The expedition almost failed when the Terra Nova was caught in a storm heading southward. Scott reached the South Pole on Jan 17th 1912, a mere month after Amundsen's party. Scott and his party perished during the return trip. These two volumes were published from the diary and notes taken during the expedition, along with supplementary material provided by the surviving members of the crew. One of the most popular Polar Exploration titles, the publication has run to innumerable later editions. Despite this, first editions are increasingly very scarce.

2 Volumes. First edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1913. Large 8vo. Original dark-blue publisher's cloth. Pages: Vol.1: xxvi, 633, 2 pages of advertisements. Fold-out map at rear.; Vol.2: xiii, [i], 534, fold-out map at rear.  6 sketches, 18 coloured plates, 260 illustrations. Numerous panoramas and maps.

Bound in original vertically-grained blue cloth. Lettering and lining in gilt on covers and spines, as well as along top edge of both volumes, remains bright. Very good. Mild rubbing and turning at corners. Very mild wearing along edges. Binding of both volumes is square and tight. Some markings on gilt top edge of both volumes. Both volumes have age mild age toning on end papers, as well as mild foxing and toning here and there throughout contents. Sans original dust jackets.

Full title: Scott's Last Expedition. In two volumes, Vol. I being the Journals, Vol. II being the Reports of the Journeys and the Scientific Work undertaken by Dr. E. A. Wilson and the surviving members of the expedition arranged by Leonard Huxley. With a preface by Sir Clements R. Markham.

Provenance: From the library of Warwick H. Williams.

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