The Worst Journey in the World

£6,000 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

“ The best written and most enduring account of exploits in the Antarctic ” (Taurus). This is very good copy of Cherry-Garrard’s (1886-1959) renowned narrative of Scott’s Last Expedition, from the departure from England in 1910 until its return in 1913, in the preferred polar binding of linen-backed blue boards. Educated at Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford, Cherry-Garrard was made assistant zoologist of the Terra Nova expedition. He’s best-known for accompanying Henry Bowers and Edward Wilson on a 105-kilometre journey to collect Emperor Penguin eggs at Cape Crozier, at the eastern end of Ross Island. “ No previous Antarctic expedition had attempted a major excursion during the depth of the Antarctic winter ” (Howgego). They departed on 27 June, 1911, pulling two sledges with six-weeks’ rations. They passed Hut Point and Cape Armitage before ascending to the Ross Ice Shelf. Conditions were so miserable and dangerous, the dark relentless, and the weather so cold (as low as -61°C) that Cherry-Garrard famously shattered his teeth. Of the six eggs they gathered from the rookery, three broke on the return to their makeshift igloo. Inclement weather was a constant and gale-force winds blew their igloo’s canvas roof away, exposing the men to the worst of the weather. Cherry-Garrard’s sleeping bag weighed more than twelve kilograms from all the frozen sweat. They returned to Cape Evans on 1 August, the remaining three eggs miraculously intact. Of course, there was the mar

• Year: 1922

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