On the "Polar Star" in the Arctic Sea. by AMEDEO, Luigi of Savoy - 1903

1903. London, Hutchinson & Co., 1903. Two volumes, 4to. Original green cloth, image of Polar Star blocked in gilt to upper cover, gilt lettering to spine; pp. xvi, 346, [xvii]-xxii; viii, [347]-702 [xi]-xii, 212 photographic illustrations in the text, 16 full-page photogravures, 2 panoramas, 5 maps including 2 folding maps at rear of volume I; free endpapers slightly embrowned, light spotting to photogravure plates, else an exceptionally handsome set. First edition. The Polar Star expedition, comprising a crew from Italy and Norway, aimed to reach the North Polar by sailing as far north as possible and then continuing by sledge. The Pole was not actually attained but the sledge expedition pushed on to a new highest latitude, and indeed the Polar Star reached the highest latitude ever achieved by a ship following the coast-line. Three of the crew perished during the sledge journey. Arctic Bibliography 10423.