Aurora Australis
Auckland, SeTo Publishing, 1988 (facsimile edition)/ 1908.
Quarto, [xiv, 173] pages (including numerous caption leaves and blanks) plus a colour title page and 10 full-page plates (one tipped in) after etchings and lithographs by George Marston.
Cord-bound quarter leather and varnished plywood boards; spine lettered and decorated in blind; first and last leaves a little discoloured (from contact with the leather); a near-fine copy with the cord-bound plywood presentation box with leather titling-pieces on the lid, as issued.
A faithful facsimile reprint of the first book published - written, edited, illustrated, printed and bound - in the Antarctic, during Sir Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909; less than 100 copies were originally produced. This facsimile edition is prepared from the 'Julienne Soup' copy in the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand; this is number 83 of 375 copies. Loosely inserted in the box is the publisher's 24-page pamphlet, 'Aurora Australis', giving a detailed history and background to the original publication, and a four-page prospectus issued by Gaston Renard Fine and Rare Books (discoloured due to contact with the leather). Renard 1439; Conrad, page 147; Rosove 304.C1.
Item #140639
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