The Home Of The Blizzard: Being The Story of The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company…, [1915]. First American Edition of this gripping account of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14 led by Sir Douglas Mawson to King George V Land and Adelie Land, the almost entirely unexplored section of the Antarctic continent immediately south of Australia. In addition to carrying out geographical exploration and scientific studies, the expedition was to visit the South Magnetic Pole. On one excursion in 1912 Mawson lost one of his two companions, Ninnis, down a crevice together with six of their best dogs, most of their food rations, and some of their best supplies. Forced to use their remaining dogs as food, they began to suffer from symptoms brought on by ingesting husky liver containing extremely high levels of Vitamin A. Mertz finally succumbed following bouts of irrationality and raging. Mawson managed escape being swallowed up by a crevice himself and made it back to their base alone just a few hours after their ship had left. He and six men who had stayed behind to wait for him were forced to spend another winter until December of 1913. In 1916 the American Geographical Society awarded Mawson the David Livingstone Centenary Medal. Spence 773. 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. xxx, [349]; xiii, [338], [1 leaf]. with half-titles & tipped-in errata slip. 2 photogravure frontis., 18 colour plates with tissue guards with legends, 110 b/w plates (9 folding, 91 double-sided), & 3 folding maps in rear pocket. numerous illus. & maps in the text. original silver-stamped cloth (some spotting to covers, lettering on spines dull, inner front hinge of vol. 2 repaired)