Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

The Worst Journey in the World 1910-1912 – Aspley Cherry-Garrard

A very good copy of the Polar classic here republished by the Folio Society, in 2012.

Quarto, 591 pages, illustrated throughout and with end paper maps. Protected by its original slipcase. Decorative boards etc. Weighty at 1.6kg so extra postage may be required.

Possibly the greatest heroic account of all time.

AC-G was only 24 when he participated in the Scott Terra Nova Expedition (1910-1913). He was knocked back twice by Scott until Edward Wilson persuaded Scott to take him as assistant zoologist. AC-G, Birdie Bowers and Wilson set off to Cape Crozier to get a fertilised Emperor Penguin’s egg. It was tough … on the way out they could only pull one of their two sleds at a time which meant they had to double back to fetch them individually (hence walking three times as far!). They arrived in a Blizzard and lost their tent before later recovering it. The journey back was maybe worse. AC-G shattered his teeth from shivering uncontrollably. George Bernard Shaw suggested the title for the book. AC-G knew T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) and suggested that both their writings were an essential form of therapy.

One of the better Folio Society renditions

$160.00

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In Amundsen’s Tracks on the Axel Heiberg Glacier – Wally Herbert

An extract from the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society – December 1963.

Pages 399-411 with large folding coloured map of the Queen Maud Range and the Axel Heiberg Glacier Region showing various exploratory tracks – Amundsen, Scott, Byrd Flight, Gould and Wally Herbert. Three nice images from photographs from the Herbert expedition.

Too much to say. First Walter [wally] Herbert possibly the greatest post heroic era polar explorer. Spent a whole 15 years of his life either North or South. First to make it truly by foot to the North Pole. Here he is part of the New Zealand GSAE expedition 1961-62.

At the time he wanted deeply to make the South pole but he was denied permission to push on the last 300km by “Head office”. While he was waiting for a verdict, he climbed Mt Fridjof Nansen from where he could further assess the route back down the Axel Heiberg Glacier – which he did with significant success and a full appreciation of Amundsen.

His report to the Society is most interesting. He starts by saying that he will not get into the long time debate as to whether Scoot hard a hard run and Amundsen got it easy on the way to the South Pole. He does point out that Amundsen did not select the obviously easier route i.e. Scott’s route was more direct and Amundsen’s route required 19,590 feet of climbing whilst Scott’s party only 11,470. Lots more of interest … Amundsen’s confusion re which mountain was which etc – same with Byrd.

The then President of the Society was non other than heroic era veteran Sir Raymond Priestley. Also present at the address was Philip Brocklehurst and John King Davies.

Priestly concludes the event with pointed comments that suggest he was, as you would expect, well and truly in the Scott camp and suggests that Wally may have had it easy on his glacial endeavour with a nice blanket of snow etc etc

Wally Herbert Polar Legend – In tracks of Amundsen – Reporting to Head Office

SO SORRY SOLD

$50.00

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Frank Hurley Biography – From Snowdrift to Shellfire – David Millar

First edition published by David Ell Press, Sydney in 1984. Limited to quite a few 2,500 copies. Quarto, 160 pages, full of images from Hurley photographs as one would expect, maps etc. A very good if not fine copy.

A truly readable and enjoyable biography, deserves more praise than it gets.

Captain James Francis (Frank) Hurley (1885-1962) was a brave man. His Antarctic exploits are legendary – the photograph of “meteorologists braving the blizzard” representing the harsh reality of Antarctic life. His achievements during the bleakest days of the “South” expedition. Later, the BANZARE expeditions.

World War I and Flanders and Palestine where the photographic record is a reminder of the sacrifice and successes of war to maintain freedom for others.

Our favourite though goes to his images in Papua New Guinea – an exploit conceived in the coldest darkest days of polar life – how extreme.

Hurley best all round biography with striking images.

$40.00

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Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

An original magic lantern slide of an important moment during Scott’s “Discovery” Expedition, by Newton & Co, London

The British National Antarctic Expedition also known as the “Discovery” Expedition, after their boat was carried out 1901-1904.

Scott chose the popular Shackleton and his trusted buddy Wilson to form, with him, the three-man party to push as far south as possible. It was not an attempt at the South Pole. They mostly achieved their goal reaching 82 degrees south, further than the previous Borchgrevink achievement.

The adventure did not run smoothly. They took many dogs with them and lost 22 from tainted food and other difficulties. Shackleton broke down and became a burden [something Shackleton later watered down – the recording of his difficulties in both Scott and Wilson’s diaries was the start probably of ill-founded views that Scott took a dislike to Shackleton, partly because of the latter’s popularity among the men]. On return to camp Scott had Shackleton sent away on the support ship “Morning” to recover.

Newton & Co can be traced back to 1704 – started by a J. Newton who was related to the big man himself Isaac Newton who was not knighted until the following year 1705.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8 cm by 8 cm.

A period memento of a key moment in Polar exploration.

$140.00

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In the Great White Land [Polar Regions] – Gordan Stables

Published by Blackie, London in the early 1930’s.

Octavo, 288 pages thick spongy paper and despite the spongy quite clean with minor marks to the extreme page edge. Coloured frontispiece and three full page illustrations. Prize label on front end papers. Rare in the striking illustrated dust jacket.

Three stories and despite the subtitle starts with … “Far Away in the Frozen North” an Arctic adventure on the good barque Walrus and the oft frozen Captain Mayne Brace (great pun). Story two “Under the Southern Cross” requires no clue as to the general location with many icy encounters. Finally “On the Great Antarctic Continent” and the beauty and marvel of the Ice-Cave. The sledging journey across the tableland and the dash for the pole takes its lead from the great Heroic Era accounts.

Adventure in the frozen South – very South.

$60.00

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Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania – November 2008 – Vol 142

Large scale softcover, perfect bound 98 pages. Quality production. Nice photographic images etc. Published by the Society.

Two Antarctic vignettes by H.J.G Dartnall, only two pages each but intriguing. First, about John Forbes, known as Mawson’s sailmaker. The second, more intriguing is about Tasman Spalding from Dunalley,. Tasmania, a 23 year old who served on the Terra Nova relief voyage. He was entitled to the Polar Medal but did not receive it possibly because his name got transposed and hence proved difficult to find at the time of handing out.

Other interesting articles include aspects geology at Heard Island; a new freshwater sponge discovered at Lake Peder; the diet of the Tasmanian Devil.

Terrific illustrations from scientific work – sections, micro photographs etc.

Royal Society Tasmania – superb work

$25.00

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The Worst Journey in the World 1910-1912 – Aspley Cherry-Garrard

In Amundsen’s Tracks on the Axel Heiberg Glacier – Wally Herbert

Frank Hurley Biography – From Snowdrift to Shellfire – David Millar

Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

In the Great White Land [Polar Regions] – Gordan Stables

Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania – November 2008 – Vol 142

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