British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition, 1910. Natural History Reports. Zoology Vols IV and V.

The fourth and fifth volumes of the Zoology section of the Natural History Museum's series of scientific reports which resulted from the Terra Nova expedition. Containing a total of thirteen parts these volumes cover Birds, Coelenterata (corals anemones, etc.), Echinodermata (starfish, sea urchins, etc.), and Protochordata (sea squirts etc.).

Particularly striking are the 9 colour plates of birds by Edward Adrian Wilson (1872-1912), chief of the scientific staff on the Terra Nova Expedition and one of the men who would never return from the voyage. He led the "winter journey", a sortie in the winter of 1911 during the expedition to reach the emperor penguin breeding grounds at Cape Crozier. Along with Henry Robertson Bowers and Apsley Cherry-Garrard he reached the site in temperatures as low as -57°C and collected penguin eggs for study, the fruit of which is part seven of volume IV titled 'Penguin Embryos'. This tortuous trek is central to Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in the World.

First editions; two volumes, 4to (31.5 x 23.5 cm); in total 42 plates and 148 in-text figures, complete with the separately issued preliminary leaves, small marginal tear to pp.225-6 of Vol V; publishers cloth, gilt morocco lettering pieces to spines, lower inner hinge of Vol V cracked but firm, a touch of rubbing to extremities, lettering pieces a little chipped, a very good set; [4], 282; [4], 252pp.

Rosove, 292.38-292.50.