AURORA: DOUGLAS MAWSON AND THE AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1911-14 (SIGNED)
Eccles, UK: The Erskine Press, 2011. Hardcover. Octavo, 6.25 x 9.4 in., pp. 525. Illustrated with over 70 black and white photographs. Two foldout maps, 13 x 9 in.: Map 1 of "King George V Land" tipped in at rear endpaper. Map 2 of "Queen Mary Island" laid in, in plastic sheath. Signed by the author on title page. Blue paper boards with gilt title to spine. Protected in mylar. (On the copyright page, below the ISBN, are the following words: "The Moral Right of the Author has been Asserted" Near Fine / Near Fine. Item #85708
"A young Douglas Mawson was part of Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition in 1907 as a geologist. He was in the small party that were the first to reach the South Magnetic Pole. Fixated with Antarctica and the potential discoveries, Mawson organised an Australian venture.
Mawson's Australasian Antarctic expedition (AAE) established two bases. One was located at Commonwealth Bay and the other at Shackleton Ice Shelf. The expedition explored the extensive coast near the bases and claimed land as British territory....
The AAE has joined the ranks of legendary expeditions. They showed tenacity of spirit, physical endurance and loyalty. These accomplishments were achieved under profoundly difficult circumstances. It is hard to imagine today just what a leap into the unknown Mawson was taking.The huge store of scientific knowledge the expedition produced continues to impress. Mawson was a committed scientist and excellent leader. He also had the foresight to introduce radio to Antarctica, to report weather phenomena.
In 1929–1931 further extensive claims to sovereignty were made. Douglas Mawson also led this expedition. This was known as the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE)."
(from Australian Antarctic Program).
Price: $85.00