1909 Shackleton 1st Edition The Heart of the Antarctic

A nice early First Edition ‘The Heart of the Antarctic’ by E. H. , 2 volume hardback books, that were launched in 1909.

It is the Story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909' by Ernest H. Shackleton. The books were produced by William Heinemann, of London. The 2 volumes are complete with all the plates present and the maps and panorama view still in rear pocket of volume two. Both books are in good condition, but have had a bit of restoration to stabilise splits on the edge of the backstrip, but are all there. The bindings of both volumes are tight and the books don’t show evidence of foxing. The outer covers are a little stained and faded, with rubbing to the cover image.

This impressive publication is the official narrative of the 1907-1909 British Antarctic Expedition in the ship Nimrod. Captained by Sir Ernest Shackleton, though the expedition did not fulfil its objective of reaching the South Pole, it did set a new Farthest South and achieve the first ascent of Mount Erebus. The expedition members occupied themselves over the long Antarctic winter with writing, printing and binding a book, the Aurora Australis, an extraordinary achievement and one of the great highspots of Antarctic book collecting.

Size both: 25.5 x 18.5 x 13 cm (10 x 7 ½ x 5 1/8 inches)
Weight: 4055 g