Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

The Friendly Arctic – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – c1927

The first UK edition c1927 of this great book by Stefansson. Imperial octavo 784 pages after preliminaries with two very good folding maps in rear pocket. A substantial volume. Very good condition albeit foxing to endpapers up to the title otherwise clean and throughout. Magnificently illustrated with 68 plates and a further 7 maps, some folding, in the body of the work.

Forward by Gilbert Grosvenor and introduction by Sir Robert Bowden setting out the origin and organisation of the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-18. Records of incredible tributes of Stefansson from Greely and the last public appearance of Admiral Peary who died shortly afterwards.

Stefansson most comprehensive in his written account with many images and maps

$120.00

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Arctic Manual – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1944

Published by Macmillan, New York a first edition 1944. Thick octavo 556 pages after preliminaries with its dust jacket getting very scarce. Very good condition.

A special book prepared by the highly qualified Stefansson under the direction of the United Sates Army.

Prepared to provide realistic advice on how to survive when stranded in the Arctic. The book is introduced by a historical background relating to early voyagers and the seeking of the elusive North West passage. He discusses in depth the topography of the land and the nature of the seas and ice. The climate (obviously) and the physical effects of cold. Winds, gales and special aviation problems. Wildlife, pests and parasites. Shelter and the many advantages of snow houses over tents (Voyager has memorised the methods of making good snow houses as a precaution). And survival, clothing, food, health and first aid. Hunting and fishing various methods and transportation in this difficult environment.

Really the only Arctic Manual by Stefansson – You never know!

$90.00

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North West to Fortune (The Discovery of the North West Passage) – Stefansson – First UK Edition 1960

Prolific explorer and writer Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s last book on the history of solving the North West passage. A first British edition published by Allen & Unwin in 1960 … Stefansson died in 1962 at 83 years of age. Octavo, 356 pages after preliminaries, end paper maps, very good condition.

Given his exploration record and the many years spent within the Arctic Circle who better to write this book. Starting the primary objectives of Columbus and Cabot to find route west to the Far East. The first recorded note of the concept is that of Robert Thorne, merchant of Bristol who produced two papers preserved by Hackluyt one addressed to Henry VIII … “I know it to be my bounden duty to manifest this secret to your Grace, which hitherto, I suppose, has been hid”. The proof was more difficult and many lives were lost.

Stefansson’s record goes well beyond the broader list of adventurers Cook, Franklin, McClure (in search of Franklin) and John Rae and later Amundsen. He covers in detail the efforts of the Fur Traders and finally the epoch-making achievement” of the US submarine, Nautilus.

North West Passage complete by Stefansson

$60.00

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Hunters of the Great North (Arctic Exploration) – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1922 – Signed Copy to the “Cheerful Philosopher” Gerber Schafer

Published by Harcourt, New York. A special book by the Canadian Arctic explorer and ethnologist. On the whole this book covers the experiences of 1908 – 1907 when he lived with the Inuit of the Mackenzie Delta returning alone across country. References to later expeditions are included.

A first edition 1922 with the scarce dust jacket and the glorious pictorial boards. Very good condition, the scarce dust jacket a bit chipped and some tape used at the rear to repair a tear which has left a mark on the back board now Brodart protected. Private library embossed stamp (no ink) of Eotthe Gozdiskowski on title page very clean and crisp binding firm.

Signed as a gift much later March 17 1942 “to Sgt Gerber D Schafer The Cheerful Philosopher the story of a first trip North to remind him of his first talk with Vilhjalmur Stefansson”.

Well illustrated covering expedition preparation, the trip down 2,000 of the Mackenzie River and the first impressions of the Eskimos, Captain Klinkenberg and the SeaWolf, Discoverer and the Whaling fleet … learning to live like an Eskimo the end of the summer and lost in the Mackenzie delta, snow house, eskimo skin boat and rafting the Porcupine, hunting Caribou, Seals and Polar Bears … real men’s work.

Stefansson (1879 – 1962) whilst born Canadian was of Icelandic parents. His portfolio of exploration is massive and varied. History has him admired but there were disasters. In 1913 – 1916 he led the Canadian Arctic Expedition. His ship the Karluk got stuck in ice. He left the ship with five others to go hunting and the ship was carried away, crushed and sank and 11 men died in various attempts to survive. Some members were ex Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition. Survivors thought Stefansson’s departure was deliberate. More curious was his 1921 expedition to claim Wrangle Island north of Siberia, first intended for the Canadian’s who after the Karluk disaster said “no thank you” … so they planted the Union Jack for the British which surprised the Russians as it was their territory and an international incident occurred.

Aside from the above there were many wonderful achievement in his “mixed bag” and he was awarded the 1921 Founders Medal by the Royal Geographical Society. Later in life he was leader of this and that and hung out at Romany Marie’s Greenwich Village Café.

Sergeant Gerber Schafer was known as the “Cheerful Philosopher” and certainly was an incredible individual. In 1918 he was involved in an early aeronautical accident and broke his spine. He was paralysed from the neck down and needed full time care to stay alive. Nevertheless, he decided he could make a real contribution in life and raised money for many good causes from his bed … his achievements too many to list are worth tracking down if you are looking for inspiration….

Rare Arctic Account signed a gift to inspirational Gerber Schafer

$140.00

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Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

A play by Douglas Stewart about Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition.

It premiered on ABC radio in June 1941 to great acclaim. It was to star Peter Finch as Scott but he joined the army four days before broadcast so Frank Harvey stepped in. No copy of the original production appears to exist. The BBC produced another version in 1951 which superseded this publication in 1945.

Comes along with the script of the play “The Golden Lover” a Maori romance.

Scott’s on the Radio and in Film!

$50.00

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Antarctic Crime – A Victim of the Aurora – Thomas Keneally – First Edition 1977

Published by Collins a first edition 1977 in pretty good condition.

A mischief-maker is strangled during a pre WWI British Antarctic Expedition, and personalities are revealed in a believable and usual crime story from the great Thomas Keneally. Dedicated to Bob Hawke!

Murder at its Coldest!

$20.00

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The Friendly Arctic – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – c1927

Arctic Manual – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1944

North West to Fortune (The Discovery of the North West Passage) – Stefansson – First UK Edition 1960

Hunters of the Great North (Arctic Exploration) – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1922 – Signed Copy to the “Cheerful Philosopher” Gerber Schafer

Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

Antarctic Crime – A Victim of the Aurora – Thomas Keneally – First Edition 1977

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