Inscribed by Bruce to Prime Minister H.H. Asquith. 'An outstanding account' (Rosove). This copy inscribed by the expedition leader to the then Prime Minister on the half-title, the inscription reading 'The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, P.C., M.P., with compliments from Wm. S. Bruce, Edinburgh, 1910'.

An interesting association. Bruce had written to Asquith the previous year requesting £6,800 for the expedition. This request was promptly declined causing indignation in Scotland at a time when Captain Scott was granted £20,000 for his second Antarctic expedition.

An account of the Scottish Antarctic Expedition 1902-1905, under the command of William Bruce, written for the general public by Rudmose Brown and two other members of the scientific staff. The text substantiates the important events, supplies a day-to-day look at life on the expedition, and describes many of the most interesting scientific findings. Included are stimulating accounts of Funchal, Gough Island, and Cape Town. Rudmose Brown stated that Bruce was so involved in the scientific reports that he had no time (or inclination) to write an account of the expedition for general readership.

Rosove notes that the "white lettering on the spine has stood the test of time poorly and is variably lost." He also states the variant b with purple endpapers is less common than variant a with blue endpapers. He further notes that it was a copy with purple endpapers that Bruce inscribed to Winston Churchill (also in Edinburgh in 1910).

First edition. 8vo., xxiv, 375 pp., inscribed on the half-title, frontispiece and 58 photographic plates, 3 maps (2 folding), decoration and lettering on spine rubbed away as usual, tips bumped, text-block toned, a few leaves spotted, pp. 41-44 clumsily opened, short closed tear to large folding map at rear, a good copy.

Taurus 51; Books on Ice, 8.2n; Rosove 50.A1b.