Scott's Last Expedition in Two Volumes. Volume I: Being The Journals of Captain R.F. Scott, R.N., C.V.O. Volume II: Being The Reports of the Journeys and the Scientific Work undertaken by Dr E.A. Wilson and the Surviving Members of the Expedition. Arranged by Leonard Huxley .. de SCOTT, Captain R.F - 1913

London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1913. First Edition. Hardcover. London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1913 [first edition]. Large octavo, two volumes, xxvi, 634, [2] (publisher's advertisements); and xvi, 534 pages with several illustrations plus (in total) 2 photogravure frontispieces, 6 photogravure plates from sketches by Dr. E.A. Wilson (with captioned tissue-guards), 8 folding maps (one in colour), 18 colour plates (16 from watercolours by Dr Wilson), 2 folding panoramas, approximately 180 pages of plates (from photographs by Herbert G. Ponting and other members of the expedition), and 2 facsimile extracts from Scott's diary (one double-page). Original dark blue ribbed cloth lettered in gilt on the front covers and spines; top edges gilt, others uncut; cloth lightly rubbed; spines lightly tanned; front board of the first volume a little bowed, with the foot of its text block a little curled at the front corner; scattered foxing throughout; marginal chips or tiny tears to some leading edges (uncut and unopened when issued, and then carelessly opened for reading - a few edges in Volume II remain unopened); one front free endpaper creased; trifling signs of age and use; overall, a very presentable set. There were four Smith, Elder editions by early 1914; first-edition sets such as this are scarce. Provenance: Professor Andrew Arthur Abbie (1905-1976), anatomist and anthropologist, with his pictorial bookplate on the front pastedowns, and a blindstamped address on the front free endpapers.

Renard 1386; Rosove 290.A1; Spence 1056. [2 items].