Lot 66
£5,000
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 13 July 2022 from 10:00 BST
The Story of Shackleton's last Expedition 1914-1917. London: William Heinemann, 1920. First edition, fourth impression, 8vo, original dark blue cloth lettered and decorated in silver, colour frontispiece, all halftone plates as called for, folding map, ownership inscription 'Ernest Welsby 1925' and 'Alan Williams, Cardiff, Mar 1988' to front pastedown, fraying to spine-ends, wear to corners, a few marks to sides, front inner hinge cracked and very tender, rear inner hinge superficially cracked, text-block toned, half-title browned, extensive closed tear in folding map (repaired verso), a few spots and marks
Note: Association copy, inscribed by Shackleton's second-in-command Frank Wild on the half-title, 'To Vince, from those who appreciate his worth & villanies [sic], Frank Wild', and additionally signed below Wild's inscription by the expedition's surgeon James McIlroy ('J. A. McIlroy, (Mick)'). The recipient is likely to have been John Vincent (1884-1931), bosun on the voyage, though later demoted to able seaman on account of his aggressive behaviour. He was selected by Shackleton as one of five men to accompany him on the James Caird on the journey to South Georgia while Wild was left in command at Elephant Island; on the return to England he was one of only a handful of expedition members not to be recommended by Shackleton for the Polar Medal.