南極記 / Nankyoku-ki
Records of Antarctica
By Shirase, Lt. Nobu
Tokyo: Hakubunka, 1984 – Expanded Memorial Edition. thick large 8vo, 22.5 cm. pp. 1, (9), 9, 468 text, 1 map, [1], 3. Publisher’s dark blue cloth boards with de-bossed Antarctic mountain scene and dog sledge in foreground, front cover image ruled in silver and title in silver; spine lettering in silver. This Third edition’s binding is identical to the First Edition, First Printing of December 1913; title page with tissue guard, 67 plate leaves including 6 full-page color plates, 1 double-page panorama and 60 full-page black-and-white photographic plates with several containing composite images; 51 captioned drawings in text, one full-page black-and-white drawing illustrating the plan and section of the ‘Kainan-Maru’; one large folding color map containing three maps in one; one stiff paper page with facsimile card signed by General Maresuke Nogi; 5 Appendices at rear. Notables are numerous additional black-and-white photographic plates and 3 drawings in text not present in the 1913 editions. A fine copy in its near fine publisher’s slipcase. Very Scarce.
Preface by Shigenobu Okuma. Produced and edited by Shirase Nankyoku Tanken o Shinobu Kai [Organization for the Memory of Nobu Shirase’s Antarctic Expedition]. The collation is similar to the first edition, first printing with two notable exceptions. This special memorial edition contains several black-and-white full-page plates that were not included in earlier editions and, Images throughout appear to be of slightly higher contrast than in earlier editions. This limited edition was issued with a slipcase in cream color stiff boards with red title on front, red title on spine with penguin decoration in frame — spine lettering is slightly faded but highly legible on this slipcase, and the back cover has 4 cm diameter circular shape illustrating a penguin on ice. — Ross 1.5.3
Often called the “official account” of the Japanese Antarctic Expedition, this narrative was composed by the Antarctic Expedition Supporter’s Committee and based on the journals and logs of Shirase and expedition members. The scientific finds were published as appendices in this publication and first published in English in a five part serial 1957 and 1958 in the Antarctic Journal, Volumes 1-5. —Rosove 309.A1.
$1250.00 -