The South Polar Times
Author(s):
[Shackleton, Bernacchi, Cherry-Garrard]
Copyright: 1907/1914, Smith, Elder, London
Specifications: see below for full specifications
Condition: see below for full condition
A Fine Set of The South Polar Times
Specifications:
3 vol, ltd ed #47/250 & #80/350 copies, 4to, 3 vol
vol I pp.xiv, 27, frontis, 6 color & 30 bw illus, color map, pp.47, frontis, 9 color & 47 bw illus, pp.41, frontis, 10 color & 33 bw illus, pp.46, frontis, 25 color & 20 bw illus, pp.48, frontis, 25 color & 13 bw illus
vol II pp.vii, 39, color frontis, 17 color & 25 bw illus, pp.68, frontis, 17 color & 53 bw illus, fldg color map, pp.58, frontis, 19 color & 27 bw illus
vol III pp.xv, 50, color frontis, 3 bw photos, 19 color & 4 bw illus, pp.52-102, color frontis, 3 bw mounted photos, 19 color & 7 bw illus, pp. 104-160, color frontis, 3 bw mounted photos, 20 color & 4 bw illus
vol I/II text in black, vol III text in blue & red, aeg, gilt-lettered spines & front, dark blue ribbed cloth w/ color portraits in gilt frames
Condition:
each vol in white linen slipcase, cloth bright, vol I w/ light pulling top spine, pencil notations on feps, several leaves separated, vol III w/ name dated 1914 on ffep, all hinges tight, a fine set
The South Polar Times was a 12-issue ‘magazine’ written and illustrated by the crew members of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott’s British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-04), on the ship ‘Discovery’, and British Antarctic Expedition (1910-13), on the ship ‘Terra Nova’, as a means to occupy and entertain the men during the four long, dark months of Antarctic winter. It contains gripping accounts of exploratory expeditions; serious scientific articles about penguins and seals, icebergs and geological strata; humorous verses, acrostics, and other puzzles. Beautifully written and illustrated with watercolors and sketches by Edward Wilson, it also contains caricatures, technical drawings, and photographs by Herbert Ponting. All text and illustrations were printed on the recto sides of each page. Each issue, for which only one copy was produced, was read aloud to all hands.
A total of twelve issues of the South Polar Times were produced over the course of the two expeditions, eight issues edited by Ernest Shackleton and Louis Bernacchi during the ‘Discovery’ expedition and four issues edited by Apsley Cherry-Garrard during the ‘Terra Nova’ expedition. Upon the expedition’s return facsimile reproductions were produced as bound, limited edition, volumes. Volumes I and II (issues 1-8) for ‘Discovery’ in 1907 (250 copies) and volume III (issues 9-11) for ‘Terra Nova’ in 1914 (350 copies). However, issue 12 was not included. The reasoning for this was that Volume III, issues 9-11, was created during the first Antarctic winter of 1911, prior to Scott’s departure for the South Pole, with Cherry-Garrard as editor and typist, and Wilson as principal illustrator. Volume IV, issue 12, was produced during the second winter of 1912. At that time the fates of both the Pole Party and Northern Party were unknown. Editing was again done by Cherry-Garrard with the assistance of Frank Debenham. Without the illustrations of Wilson and photos by Ponting, who had returned home, this fourth volume was considered to be below the standard of the first three, although better than expected, and therefore was not reproduced in facsimile upon their return.
It was the success of the publication of the South Polar Times which led Shackleton to take printing equipment on his own 1908 expedition and produce the Aurora Australis, the first book printed and bound in the Antarctic.
The gutta-percha used in the binding of the first three volumes is notorious for not holding the leaves in place. This set has several loose/separated leaves and is otherwise tight. This is certainly one of the scarcest books of Antarctic literature. A wonderful matched set with common volume numbers for Vol I & II. This set weighs 15 pounds and requires additional postage and insurance.
Very scarce. AB-USN 23-53.73, Conrad p.111 & p.173, Karrow 670, Meadows 312 & 329, Renard 1433, Rosove 287.A1 & 291.A2, Spence 1094, Stam p.100, Taurus 42 & 79.