"TO… ONE OF NEWFOUNDLAND'S 'NIMRODS' FROM AN 'OULD ANTARCTIC PENGUIN'": FIRST EDITION OF THE SOUTH POLAR TRAIL, WONDERFULLY INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR AND FOUR-TIME ANTARCTIC EXPLORER ERNEST JOYCE AND ALSO WITH JOYCE'S TRANSCRIPTION OF ROBERT SERVICE'S POEM, "RHYMES OF A ROLLING STONE"

JOYCE, Ernest E. Mills. The South Polar Trail. The Log of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. London: Duckworth, 1929. Octavo, original blue cloth.

First edition of this diary-based narrative about the Ross Sea Party's fight to survive Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition, inscribed on the half title: "To 'My Dear Old Friend' H.C. Joh. Esq. One of Newfoundland's 'Nimrods' From an 'Ould Antarctic Penguin' 'Best Wishes' & 'Kia Ora' Joycey. London. Sept 6th 1930. 'I have no doubt at all the Devil grins As seas of ink I spatter; Ye sods, forgive my 'literary' sins—the other kind don't matter.'"

Four-time Antarctic explorer Ernest Joyce remains among the most daring and courageous of the polar explorers. This work, based on his personal diary, details his experiences trying to complete his mission as part of the Ross Sea Party on Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917 (often referred to as the Endurance Expedition). The Ross Sea Party was faced with depot laying, one of the most arduous tasks entrusted to the expedition. Joyce was ultimately awarded the Albert Medal for his bravery. Today, The South Polar Trail continues to be regarded as the principal firsthand account of the Ross Sea Party. "An excellent book that is scarce" (Conrad, 220). Without exceptionally rare dust wrapper. Spence 642. Rosove 188.A1.a. Taurus 106. Fitzgerald 366. This copy has a wonderful inscription on the half title referencing polar exploration in multiple ways. For instance, Joyce calls his friend a "Nimrod," alluding to Shackleton's 1907-1909 Antarctic Nimrod expedition on which Joyce served as general storeman and was also involved with dogs, sledges, and zoological collections. He also uses the salutation "Kia Ora," common in New Zealand, one of the places many Antarctic expeditions either began or ended. Joyce also concludes with Robert W. Service's "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone," taken from the book of the same name, originally published in 1912. Robert Service is a much loved Canadian poet, often associated with the Yukon and the arctic and thus explorers such as Franklin. Bookseller ticket.

Only a few spots of isolated foxing to interior, slightest rubbing to cloth extremities. A near-fine copy. Scarce.