AB Catalogue 2021-TWO 28SEP

“The First Edition used cheap paper prone to severe browning,
a poorly crafted binding likely to split at the joints with
normal usage, and silver printing on the binding subject to
oxidizing” (‘The Taurus Collection’, 2001). Later Impressions
had to be printed within one month of the First Edition, due
to those problem faults. At the close of WWI publishers did
not have quality print production available. But as soon
as higher quality became accessible, fresh impressions no
longer had discoloured pages. This copy is superior to the
First Edition. Inscribed by Ernest Mills Joyce to his Mother.
Rebound blue Morocco leather, Very Good Plus.
Along With:
The South Polar Trail
Ernest Mills Joyce
The Log Of Ernest Mills Joyce On The Imperial Trans-
Antarctic Expedition. London, 1929, Duckworth, First U.K.
Edition. 220 pp, frontispiece and 60 other B&W photographs.
This book is based on Joyce’s diary and is the primary, firsthand
account of the Ross Sea Party. Joyce was closely tied to
the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration, having been with
Scott on the Discovery Expedition (1901-04), and then with
Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition (1907-09). Shackleton
chose Joyce for the Ross Sea Party support team, part of the
British Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-17). They were the
‘Forgotten Men’ after the Endurance story became public.
However the ‘Forgotten Men’ had a story to tell, how Joyce
and his companions sledged over 1,600 miles to lay depots
which were never used – due to the sinking of the Endurance.
“The Ross Sea Party consisted of ten men, including Joyce,
Aeneas Mackintosh (leader), Ernest Wild (brother of
Frank Wild), Joseph Stenhouse, and Dick Richards. For the
Antarctic crossing, Shackleton placed Joyce in charge of
dogs, provisions and laying out of depots. When their ship
‘Aurora’ ripped from its moorings in a storm, carrying
most of their supplies, the ten men scavenged equipment
and food and eventually set out to lay the depots needed
for Shackleton and his men. Of the ten, three men died
including Mackintosh.” On the front Dustjacket cover there
is a photograph of the Ross Sea Party disembarking ‘Aurora’
with their dogs; below that is the quote to Joyce from Sir
Ernest Shackleton. (Reference Spence 642). Overall a sound
copy, clean, not foxed internally. Rare book, this copy with
Facsimile Dustjacket, Very Good.
For the two books: $8,500
Joyce and companion
15