Charles Francis Laseron (1887–1959)

South with Mawson; Reminiscences of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 [from the Steve Fossett collection]
Laseron, Charles Francis
Sydney: Australasian Publishing Co., 1947. Near Fine in Very Good dust-jacket First Edition. [8.75x5.75in]; 223 pp., frontispiece image of 'Aurora', 13 plates with 16 black and white images; Tan linen covers with dark blue lettering on spine, map of expedition area on front and back end papers, all edges trimmed; Light blue dust jacket with white lettering on front and spine, black and white image of expedition members on ice shelf from ship, publisher illustration on back; Minimal shelf wear to covers, slight age toning of text block edges, front and back hinges loose, bookseller label on lower front end paper, bookplate of Steve Fossett on front end paper; Some shelf wear to dust jacket with small chips and closed tears along edges, larger chips and tears to lower spine slightly affecting front image, spine slightly faded, price clipped. [Rosove 196.A1, Conrad p.206, Spence 684]. Item #13653

Charles Francis Laseron (1887-1959) was selected by Mawson as the zoologist on the Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-14. He was one of 18 men that set up winter quarters at Cape Denison to explore Adelie and King George V lands. From Rosove, "The book is a lighthearted collection of personal experiences and impressions, particularly of the main party, with comment on the lives of his expedition mates after their return. Some of the photographs, including those taken by the author on the Eastern sledging journey, are published herein for the first time." The is a scarce book that can be read along with Sir Douglas Mawson book, "The Home of the Blizzard" is one of the foundation books of the Heroic era of Antarctic polar exploration.

Steve Fossett (1944-2007) was a successful commodities trader and an adventurer that set world records in balloons, sailboats, gliders and unique powered aircraft. His 2,000 + book collection included significant and authoritative accounts of aeronautics, polar, Asia, Australasia, circumnavigation's, mountaineering and others. In 2007, Fossett disappeared on a solo flight in a light aircraft over the eastern Sierra Mountains along the California and Nevada border. The wreckage was found by hikers a year later along the rugged Mt. Ritter range in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in Madera County, about 10 miles east of Yosemite National Park.… (mehr)