The Home Of The Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911–1914.

MAWSON, Sir Douglas.

$1,250.00

Item Number: 111828

Philadelphia and London: J.B. Lippincott and William Heinemann, 1915.

First edition of this classic account of Antarctic exploration. Thick octavo, 2 volumes, original dark blue cloth, profusely illustrated with 18 color plates, hundreds of black-and-white plates, numerous in-text illustrations and three color folding maps in rear pocket of Volume II. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. In near fine condition.

The Home of the Blizzard is Antarctic expedition leader, Sir Douglas Mawson's, first-hand account of his years leading the Australasian Antarctic Expedition between 1911 and 1914. Along with Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Douglas Mawson was one of the foremost expedition leaders in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration at the dawn of the 20th century. During this period the Antarctic continent became the focus of an international effort that resulted in exhaustive scientific and geographical exploration in severe conditions over previously unchartered territory. Seventeen Antarctic expeditions were launched from ten countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Belgium. Mawson’s expedition focused on the stretch of Antarctic shoreline between Cape Adare and Mount Gauss, carrying out mapping and survey work on coastal and inland territories. Discoveries included Commonwealth Bay and the Mertz Glacier.