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CHARCOT, Jean B. (1825–1893). The Voyage of the ‘Why Not?’ in the Antarctic: The Journal of the Second French South Polar Expedition, 1908–1910. Translated from the French by Philip Walsh. Toronto and London: The Musson Book Company; Hodder and Stoughton, n.d. [1911].
Small 4to. (Some very occasional light spotting at margins, front free endpaper clipped at top edge). Numerous illustrations from photographs including folding frontispiece. Original gilt–decorated and lettered teal cloth, white–stamped decoration on spine (spine device a bit rubbed).
FIRST EDITION, CANADIAN ISSUE of Charcot’s account of his 2–year scientific research expedition that charted 3,000 kilometers of previously unknown coastline. “In 1906, when Charcot’s first journey was given to the French–speaking world, British publishers clearly felt there was insufficient interest at home to commission an English translation. By 1911, however, with the Shackleton/Scott controversy raging and chauvinism over the Antarctic riding high, this most handsome piece of book production appeared in Britain. Perhaps its lasting elegance was an unspoken apology for previous British indifference to France’s efforts in the Antarctic” (Taurus). The English translation omits the scientific appendices and some of the photographs but adds an index not present in the original. Rosove 67.A3; Spence 262 (UK edition); Taurus 66.