This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/12/2023
SHIRASE, Nobu (1861-1946). Nankyoku Tanken. [in English: Antarctic Expedition]. Tokyo: Hakubunkan, 21 January 1913.
8vo (222 x 149 mm). 8 full-page plates containing 19 photographs, 76 photographic illustrations in the text, folding color map tipped onto an unnumbered leaf between pp. 340-41. Original color pictorial boards depicting Antarctic Sea ice and begs with penguins (rebacked preserving original spine, some light dust soiling to covers, tiny marred spot on upper cover, else fine); folding box made by Courland Benson of Victoria, B.C. Provenance: Japanese ownership stamp on upper cover and title-page.
FIRST EDITION, CHET ROSS’ “KYOTO” COPY which was discovered in Kyoto in 2013. This is Shirase’s very rare personal account of the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. This title pre-dates Nankyoku-ki (see Ross 1.5.1), which is often called the “official account” of the Expedition which did not appear in print until December of 1913. The frontispiece shows portrait photographs of the three leading members of the Antarctic Expedition Support Committee: Count Okuma, Count Kodama and Count Nogi along with Lieutenant Shirase. Ross 1.4.1 (“Very Rare”); Rosove 381.A1.