Aurora Australis. Limited Edition Facsimile.
Great Britain: Bluntisham Books / Paradigm Press, 1986. Limited edition, No. 51 of 58 copies. Hardcover. Regarded as the most authentic reproduction of the original publication, this is a facsimile and limited edition, bound in wooden covers and housed in a slipcase, Number 51 of only 58 copies.
The original book was produced entirely by members of the expedition, in order to save them from what Shackleton termed "polar ennui" while the team over-wintered at Cape Royds on Ross Island in the McMurdo Sound.
The original Aurora Australis was edited by Shackleton, and illustrated with lithographs and etchings by George Marston. It was printed by Frank Wild and Ernest Joyce, who took a crash course in printing in 1907 before departing for the expedition.
It was bound by Bernard Day, the electrician and mechanic of the expedition. He resourcefully used boards from the crates in which the expedition's supplies were shipped and harness leather for the spines in binding the volumes.
There has been an ongoing count of how many of the original were actually produced: 58 was the confirmed number of originals in 1985. Now the ongoing census on the Antarctic circle website states that Shackleton brought back 80 copies to England, of which 79 are listed as confirmed.
Copies of the book are often identified by the original stencils on the inside of the covers. Two of the original copies held at the Alexander Turnbull Library in New Zealand are known as the ‘Julienne Soup’ and ‘Beans’ copies for the words stencilled inside the wooden covers.
This facsimile copy has the work "WithCar" stencilled inside the back wood cover, likely part of "Handle With Care". The presentation inscription reads "With the Editors Kindest Regards. Ernest Shackleton. This Book was made, Bound, Printed in the Antarctic in 1908".
8vo, xxiii, unpaginated (212pp), 10 plates, b&w illustrations. Bound in wooden boards, dark brown leather spine with title blind stamped. With explanatory booklet in yellow paper wrappers. 8vo, unpaginated (24pp), b&w illustrations.
Housed in a blue cloth covered slipcase with gilt title at red spine label. The book and booklet in fine condition, the box slightly rubbed and bumped. Very good condition. Item #23270
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