[SHIRASE, Nobu (1861-1946)]. JAPANESE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION SUPPORT COMMITTEE (1910-1912). Nankyoku-ki [in English: Records of Antarctica]. Tokyo: Hatsubaimoto Seik Zasshisha, 15 December 1913.

8vo (222 x 146 mm). 39 plates including 4 in color, numerous photographs and drawings in the text, large fold-out color map bound at rear containing three maps on one; mounted card on thick brown paper as issued with signature of General Maresuke Nogi, the famous General and Japanese hero from the Russian-Japanese war with his note translated: “congratulations on heroic attempt”. Original dark-blue cloth with silver-lettering, upper cover embossed with an inset Antarctic mountain scene and dog sledge in foreground, framed in silver (some spots of rubbing to silver-stamping on spine, some dampstaining at upper margins).

FIRST EDITION. Often called the “official account” of the Japanese Antarctic Expedition, this narrative was composed by the Japanese Antarctic Expedition Support Committee and based on the journals and logs of Lt. Shirase and various expedition members. The scientific findings were published as appendices in this publication. Those findings were first published in English in a five-part serial from 1957 and 1958 in the Antarctic Journal, vol. 1-5. (Ross 1.8). This account was painstakingly translated into English by Hilary Shibata and Lara Dagnall and now listed as Ross 1.5.4A.

A UNIQUE COPY with the red seal on the main title-page indicating this title was read by the Emperor of Japan. Ross 1.5.1 (“Rare”); Rosove 309.A1a; Conrad, p. 166.