05/03/2026
Lot 42 - THE STORY OF THE SHACKLETON'S LAST EXPEDITION 1914 - 1917 (FIRST EDITION; ILLUSTRATED) by Sir Ernest Shackleton
Few polar narratives command the reverence of The Story of Shackleton’s Last Expedition 1914–1917 by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Issued in its first edition and richly illustrated, this volume documents the extraordinary Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition and the near-mythic survival of the crew of the Endurance. Shackleton’s leadership — navigating pack ice, open boats, and the unforgiving waters of the Southern Ocean — has become a defining study in courage and command under extreme adversity.
A true first edition of this title is increasingly scarce. Many copies were read heavily, handled in libraries, or lost to time, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable to collectors of exploration, Antarctic history, and early twentieth-century travel literature.
From a historical standpoint, this work is not merely an adventure tale; it is a primary account of one of the greatest survival stories ever recorded. For collectors seeking significance, narrative power, and rarity in one volume, this first edition represents an exceptional opportunity.
