This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/18/2025
SCOTT, Captain Robert F. (1868-1912). The Voyage of the “Discovery". London: Smith, Elder & Co., [1905]. Thick 8vos. Illustrated with 12 color plates, photogravure frontispieces, numerous intertextual illustrations, 3 folding maps, all housed in rear pockets of each volume. xix, 596; xii, 508 pp. Publisher's full blue cloth, front boards stamped with gilt vignettes, spines lettered in gilt (gilt on front boards a bit rubbed, spines lightly toned, some rubbing to board edges, occasional foxing in text, edge of text blocks foxed, contemporary gift inscriptions on both ffeps, rear hinges starting, one map with a split at a fold). Each volume has a small "Time Book Club" sticker inside the rear front cover. Unsold first editions were offered to members of the newly founded (in 1905) Times Book Club at a reduced price; for this service, members paid 3 pounds 18 shillings per year. Fine. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. This was the first Antarctic voyage led by Robert F. Scott, and also the first Antarctic voyage by then - Lt. Ernest Shackleton, whose popularity, energy and competence won over the rest of the crew and posed a challenge to Scott's authority and ego. Scott, Shackleton and Dr. Edward Wilson made the first deep southern probe toward the Pole on this trip, and all fell ill from scurvy, especially Shackleton. Scott sent Shackleton home as an invalid. Later, in writing "The Voyage of the Discovery," Scott blamed Shackleton for the failure of the trek and implied he was weak. This account, "The Voyage of the Discovery," was the origin of the lifelong feud between Scott and Shackleton that partly motivated their subsequent South Pole attempts. Spence 1051.