British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909 – Ernest Henry Shackleton (1847-1922)
The Heart of the Antarctic. Being the story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909. London: William Heinemann, 1909.
Association copy, owned by a sponsor of Scott's Last Expedition and containing the signatures of the polar quadrumvirate Scott, Shackleton, Amundsen and Peary. This copy is presented to John H. Reed by Joseph Storrs Fry II (1826-1913). Fry was a member of the Bristol Fry family, head of the family chocolate firm of J.S. Fry & Sons and a philanthropist. He had a close interest in polar exploration, and sponsored Scott’s ill-fated last expedition by supplying it with cocoa and chocolate (see letters from the expedition sold at Christie’s 22 September 2010, lot 94).

We have been unable to identify the recipient, J.H. Reed was, but he seems to have shared Fry’s enthusiasm for polar exploration because his annotations in this copy indicate he was present at the Colston Hall in Bristol on 1 December 1909 to hear Sir Ernest Shackleton lecture on his experiences during the British Antarctic expedition of 1907-1909. He also collected the signatures of important polar explorers which are entered on the flyleaves of vol. I, and include: R.F. Scott (‘Captain South Pole Expedition’), Edward R.G.R. Evans (‘Lt ditto’; together with a second signature dated ‘Dec 14 1913’), Roald Amundsen, E.H. Shackleton (‘Sir Ernest Shackleton’s autograph after Colston Hall lecture Dec. 1 1909’), Frank Wild (dated ‘5/10/13, Cecil H. Meares and H.G. Ponting (signature on printed penguin advertising Ponting’s lecture ‘Animal Life in the Antarctic’ at the Philharmonic Hall, London).

2 volumes, quarto (245 x 180mm). Half-titles, titles in brown and black, errata slip to vol. II. 2 frontispieces printed in sepia, 211 plates (of which 4 double-page and 12 coloured), text illustrations, 1 folding panorama in pocket at end of vol. II (without the 3 folding maps, these replaced by modern facsimile copies, some light scattered spotting and soiling throughout). Publisher’s dark-blue cloth, upper covers stamped in silver, spines and upper covers lettered in silver, top edges gilt, others uncut (rebacked preserving original spines, rubbed and soiled).

Joseph Storrs Fry II (presentation inscription in secretarial hand and with autograph signature, to:)
John H. Reed ('in remembrance of October 28/09 with kind regards...'; Reed’s name deleted in ink)

Conrad p.148
Rosove 305.B1
Spence 1097

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