This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/12/2023
TADA, Keiichi. Nankyoku Tanken Nikki. [in English: Antarctic Expedition Diary]. Tokyo: Maekawa Bunoeikaku, 1 August 1912.
Small 8vo (197 x 133 mm). 3 color plates, printed signature of Tada, 2 full-page maps, 14 photographs and drawings after Tada including 7 full-page; 19pp. advertisements at end. Original stiff pictorial wrappers printed in black and red, upper cover depicting the Kainan Maru and the special expedition flag bearing the Southern Cross (rebacked preserving original spine, reinforced with Japanese stab stitching, some creases and soiling to covers, tiny hole on lower cover, corners of text-block a bit rounded).
FIRST EDITION. One of two narratives written by Keiichi Tada immediately after the return of the Japanese Antarctic Expedition to Japan in 1912. Both were considered unauthorized primary first-person accounts. This account was published only one month after Tada’s other, Nankyoku Tanken Shiroku (Ross 1.2.1). This publication appears to be more extensive in its coverage of the entire expedition covering the stay over in New Zealand and also by providing color maps detailing their voyage. Tada was the chief secretary of Shirase's Antarctic expedition party and Shirase’s right-hand man but was demoted during the second leg of the expedition. He jumped ship upon their return to Japan in order to rush his account of the expedition to press. Tada had apparently been working on it during the ship’s return. Ross 1.3.1 (“Very Rare”).