London: George Newnes, 1901. First edition. Octavo. Original publisher's blue pictorial cloth, top edge gilt. Photogravure portrait frontispiece, 3 folding maps, black and white illustrations after photographs throughout, 32 pp. publisher's advertisements at rear, occasionally uncut. Spine extremities a little bumped, otherwise a stunning, Fine copy. Rarely found in this condition.

Borchgrevink was a member of Henrik Bull's Norwegian Antarctic expedition, which was the first confirmed landing on the Antarctic continent in 1895. Upon returning he was able to raise considerable funds from the publisher Sir George Newnes for another expedition lead by him. The expedition on the Southern Cross, purchased and refitted from the funds from Newnes, was one of the most important and fundamental in the history of Antarctic expeditions. While their initial goals were frustrated by the harsh conditions, the expedition achieved a number of firsts. It achieved a new 'furthest south' record (beating Ross's 1840 marker), it was the first to establish a base on the main body of the Antarctic continent, as well as the first scientific party to winter over. They also completed the first sledging journey across the Ross Ice Shelf. The fact that they wintered over on the Antarctic continent proved it was possible, and therefore was the foundation from which later expeditions built from.

Renard, 153; Rosove 45.A1.b "one of the most important in the Antarctic bibliography". Fine (Item #8219)