The Worst Journey in the World: Antarctic 1910-1913

London: Constable, Printed by R & R Clark, Edinburgh. 1922 — First Edition, First Printing. Large 8vo - 23cm. Quarter course tan linen on blue-gray papered boards, all edges uncut, blue-gray endpapers. A complete 2-volume set in its original publisher's First Printing state in Very Good condition with strong hinges, soiling to paper covered boards, clean internally with some intermittent foxing, no folds or tears; slight wear and fading to extremities of board covers; some small dark spotting of read boards, linen spines with some wear at extremities and with original paper spine labels, publisher's extras spine labels tipped in each volume; all tissue guards, plates and panoramic fold-outs in place. — Rosove 71.A1. Very Scarce.

Volume I: pp. lxiv, 300, 4; 30 plate leave including color front-piece with tissue guard, 2 folding panoramas, and 27 plate leaves (3 color; 36 sketch, paintings, and photographs), and 4 maps [3 folding]; Appendix.

Volume II: pp. viii, 301-585, (1), 28 plate leaves including color front-piece with tissue guard, 8 folding panoramas, and 19 plate leaves (1 color; 24 sketches, painting, and photograph), 1 folding map; Index.

The important first edition, first printing of the most sought after, and most difficult to find publications in the polar canon. This is the dramatic and well-written account of Scott's ("Terra Nova") expedition of 1910-1913. The expedition was comprised of three actual journeys: the depot journey – during which supplies were laid for the polar trip; the winter journey to Cape Crozier to visit the penguin rookery (the "worst journey" of the title); and the final, tragic attempt on the pole, during which Scott and three others perished. Many say that this is the best polar book ever written. Later editions omitted the numerous panoramas, color plates, one of the maps, and most of the photographs — this edition contains all in its complete and original state to include the very scarce extra spine labels tipped inside the front cover of each volume.

Provenance: Inscription on half title volume 1 from Elizabeth (Elsie) Cherry-Garrard, the author's sister. Full-page note penned in presumedly the same hand as Elsie Cherry-Garrard on verso following half-title page.