The Worst Journey in The World: Antarctic 1910-1913. CHERRY-GARRARD, Apsley.

First edition of this account of the Terra Nova Expedition. Cherry-Garrard was uniquely qualified to tell the full story of the main party. "He was a member of the main party for the expedition's entire duration, had access to unpublished sources, and was the only member of the Winter Journey to survive the expedition" (Rosove). "Cherry-Garrard seems an unlikely hero of Antarctic exploration, but he has achieved that status largely through this book A young but wealthy patrician, near-sighted and frail, he paid his way onto the crew as an assistant zoologist, but performed splendidly in many harrowing situations The 'worst journey' of the title was not Scott's ill-fated rendezvous with death, but the earlier Ross Island winter trip from Cape Evans to the penguin colony at Cape Crozier Both of Cherry's companions on the Winter Journey (as it was called) died on the Southern journey with Scott. Cherry participated on that trip but was with the last group to be sent back to the base before the final assault on the South Pole; he also was sent to rendezvous with the returning party of Scott and his four companions, a failed mission; and finally he was the one who discovered their tent and the three bodies in it" (Books on Ice). Books on Ice 6.12; Howgego III S14; Rosove 71.A1; Spence 277; Taurus 84. 2 vols, octavo (222 x 140 mm). Bound with half-titles. Colour frontispieces with tissue guards, 58 plates (4 colour, 11 folding), 3 maps (2 folding). Finely bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in mid-century brown half morocco, raised bands dotted in gilt, spines lettered in gilt, gilt rules, marbled sides and endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Bindings lightly sunned, moderate foxing internally, final folding plate in Vol. I with small horizontal loss to printed area along majority of final fold, repairs on verso, plates and text otherwise well preserved: a very good set, sitting handsomely on the shelf.