[AMEDEO, Luigi, of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi]. On the Polar Star in the Arctic Sea; with the Statements of Commander U. Cagni Upon the Sledge Expedition to 86° 34' North, and of Dr. A. Cavalli Molinelli Upon His Return to the Bay of Teplitz. Translated by William Le Queux. London: Hutchinson & Co., 1903.
Hardcover. First edition, first impression. Complete in two volumes. Full cloth. Thick quarto (260 x 200 mm), pp. xvi, 346, xvii-xxii; viii, [1], 349-702, ix-xii. Bound in publisher's original dark blue cloth, gilt lettering to spines, front covers with gilt stamped vignettes. Initial and terminal blanks plus half-titles present. Title-pages in red and black. 16 photogravure plates, 2 folding panoramas, 5 coloured maps (2 folding at rear of vol. II) & 212 text illustrations (many full-page). Index in double column to rear of both volumes. Condition: VERY GOOD. Collated complete. Bindings secure and square. Covers clean and well preserved with faintest touch of bumping at spine ends. The text-blocks are very clean. Without inking
Notes: First edition in English, originally published in Italian in the same year. Abruzzi was one of the last of the aristocrat-explorers whose access to vast personal fortunes allowed them to mount expeditions "untrammelled by the need for government approval or public subscription." (Howgego) At home he was a quiet and reserved man, but once abroad he became " a man of daring and courage for whom no challenge was insurmountable." His expeditions were meticulously planned, and executed with almost military precision, often calling upon the same group of "like-minded friends, an army of scientists and guides, and immense stores of provisions and equipment." The Duke's first expedition of 1897 had scaled the previously unconquered peak of Mount St. Elias on the border between Canada and Alaska. The present work is an account of his arctic assault of 1898-1900; "An important attempt at the North Pole with descriptions of conditions, wildlife, nature, food, weather, equipment with the second section written by U. Cagni on the sledge march. Amedeo reached the closest to the North Pole at that time. Some of his men froze to death while pulling their sleds over the ice. A richly illustrated work, beautifully photographed and described." (Arctic Bibliography). Abruzzi later led expeditions to the Ruwenzori and the Himalayas; commanded the Italian Adriatic fleet during World War I; and founded an experimental agricultural community in Somaliland during the 20s. Arctic Bibliog 10423; Books on ice 4.11; Howgego, Polar, A2.
