Crossing of Antarctica First Edition - Edmund Hillary - Bauman Rare Books

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Crossing of Antarctica

Edmund HILLARY | Sir Vivian FUCHS

Item#: 112681 We're sorry, this item has been sold

Crossing of Antarctica

"THAT NIGHT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS HAD AGAIN COME UPON US": FIRST EDITION OF FUCHS AND HILLARY’S CROSSING OF ANTARCTICA

FUCHS, Sir Vivian and HILLARY, Sir Edmund. The Crossing of Antarctica: The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-58. London: Cassell, (1958). Octavo, original blue cloth, chartographic endpapers, original dust jacket.

First edition of this account of the first land crossing of Antarctica, profusely illustrated with color and and black-and-white photographs.

The 1955-58 British Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition was lead by Sir Vivian Fuchs, who would become the first person to cross Antarctica by land. Sir Edmund Hillary led the New Zealand party responsible for laying depots for Fuchs' return from the Pole to the Ross Sea. Hillary set up Scott Base on Ross Island, explored the Ross Sea Basin and then via the Skelton Glacier established Depot 700. Depot 700 was meant as his furthest point south, but with a month to wait for Fuchs, Hillary continued on to the Pole, reaching it on Jan. 4, 1958, becoming the third person to do so by land. Fuchs, meanwhile, had left Shackleton Base on November 24, 1957, with the main party reaching the Pole on Jan. 20, 1958 where he was met by Hillary, and continued on to Depot 700 on Feb. 7, 1958 where Hillary, who had flown back from the Pole, guided his party to the Ross Sea. Fuchs, while at McMurdo Station, was knighted by telegram for becoming the first man to cross Antarctica by land. Conrad 2142. Fitzgerald 246. Spence 490. Owner signature.

Book fine, dust jacket with a couple tiny spots of soiling, light wear and a few closed tears to edges, and mild toning. A near-fine copy.

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