[AMUNDSEN, Roald (1872-1928); translated by A. G. Chater]. The South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the "Fram," 1910-1912. Published by John Murray/Lee Keedick, London & New York, 1913.
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION; signed by author, complete in two volumes, cloth-bound, hardcover, octavo (23.5cm x 16cm), pp. xxxv, 392; x, 449. English text, translated by A. G. Chater. Bound in publisher's original blue cloth with gilt titles, top page edges gilt, other edges uncut, initial and terminal blanks plus half-titles present, 136 plates, 5 maps (3 folding), 16 text figures, rear index in double column. Signed portrait of the author neatly tipped-in to the front of vol. I. Condition: VERY GOOD. Bindings tight, secure and square. Covers nicely preserved with a few trivial marks. Interiors largely fresh and clean with faint age toning. Previous owner signature to front endpapers. Some old taped repairs to the folding maps. Lacking dust jackets. A handsome set and scarce thus.
Notes: A well-preserved first American edition, published the year after the London edition. This copy with a signed portrait of the author tipped-in to vol. I pastedown. Amundsen had originally planned an expedition to repeat Nansen's drift with the Fram through the Arctic Ocean, and presumably to try for the north pole, but support for the project fell with the announcement of Cook's & Peary's accomplishments. He then turned toward the south, even though Scott's plans to attempt the south pole were well known, and was severely criticized (mostly in Great Britain) for competing with Scott. The two polar journeys were in marked contrast, and form part of one of the greatest dramas of exploration - Amundsen made the trip with dogs and skis, and with little difficulty, reaching the pole a month before Scott's party; Scott and four others reached the pole, but died on the return, just short of safety, after an heroic but ill-planned trip, dragging their own sleds. This edition includes ten additional photographic illustrations not used in the original Norwegian version. Rosove, 9.A1; Spence 16.
