NANSEN, Fridtjof (1861-1930). Farthest North: Being the Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship “Fram” 1893-96 and of Fifteen Months’ Sleigh Journey by Dr. Nansen. Westminster: Archibald Constable and Company, 1897.
2 volumes, royal 8vo. Etched frontispiece portrait, 4 color-printed folding maps, 16 chromolithographic plates, numerous illustrations after photographs. Original blue-green cloth blocked in gilt (spines a bit sunned and skewed, edges gently rubbed, blank paste-overs on front pastedown).
FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, LAID IN WITH AN AUTOGRAPH NOTE FROM NANSEN TO POLAR EXPLORER SIR CLEMENTS MARKHAM, “as a token of warm friendship and admiration”, dated 11 February 1897, the year of publication. Markham (1893-1905) was a geographer, explorer, writer, and Member of the Royal Geographical Society, its secretary for 25 years, and subsequently, its President. As RGS President, he would revive the British interest in Antarctic exploration with the formation of the National Antarctic Expedition, 1895-1904, and despite the criticism, Markham would champion Robert Falcon Scott as its leader, subsequently launching Scott’s polar career. The NAE was reported at the time as being one of the most successful expeditions that ever ventured into the Polar regions. Arctic Bib. 11983.