Aurora Australis

Aurora Australis by Ernest Shackleton and members of the ‘Nimrod’ Expedition.

Published by The Folio Society in 2021 as a Limited Edition and replica of a memento from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration to commemorate the centenary of the death of Ernest Shackleton. Now sold out.

‘Aurora Australis was a triumph... Its contents express the spirit and character of the commander and his men on the Nimrod expedition and of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration itself.’ (From Jan Piggott’s commentary, Printed at the Sign of the Penguins)

Devised by Ernest Shackleton to sustain his men’s spirits during the winter darkness of 1908, Aurora Australis was the first book ever produced in Antarctica: a beautifully illustrated miscellany of polar life printed inside the British Antarctic Expedition’s cramped hut. To mark the centenary of Shackleton’s death, the Folio Society has created a superb replica, in a limited edition of just 500 hand-numbered copies. Quarter-bound in the smoothest calfskin with beechwood Venesta boards, Aurora Australis is complemented with a commentary by Shackleton expert Jan Piggott. With only around 80 copies made originally, and no other facsimile reproductions in print, this is a rare chance to own one of the greatest mementos from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Production Details

Facsimile of Aurora Australis limited to 500 hand-numbered sets and 20 hand-lettered copies Hors de Commerce; this being letter H.  Fully reproduced from Rudyard Kipling's copy held in the Library at Dulwich College, London, and published by the Folio Society to commemorate the centenary of Ernest Shackleton's death.  It is printed on Old Mill paper by Pureprint Group, Uckfield (194 pages), and the binding is created from beeckwood Venesta boards, quarter-bound in calfskin by Ludlow Bookbinders, Ludlow.  The inside boards feature a stencilled 'Petit Pois' design to match the original.  The pages have been threaded by hand onto twine and secured by calfskin.  It features 11 illustrations by George Marston.  Sized 11˝ x 8˝.

With a Commentary comprised of 16 pages printed letterpress on Munken pure paper, bound in green Tintoretto Ceylon paper blocked in brown foil.  Sized 10˝ x 7½˝.

In a clamshell presentation box bound in Natuur linen, blocked in brown foil and inset with a calfskin leather label blind-blocked with the expedition's 'Printed at the Sign of The Penguins' motif.  Sized 12˝ x 9˝ x 2¼˝

Condition

Both the facsimile and the commentary are in fine, pristine, immaculate condition, with no issues to be seen. The clamshell case has the slightest hint of shelf-wear, but is - for all intents and purposes - better than near-fine. A beautiful, special edition.