AURORA AUSTRALIS
The Illustrations that Appear in the Aurora
Launched: 6 November 2010.
Last updated: 23 June 2012
Introduction
The illustrations that appear in the Aurora Australis were the work of George Marston, the expedition's artist. The second of the two presses taken to the Antarctic was the press responsible for the illustrations. It's unclear what type the second press was but it had to be capable of producing etchings, lithographs and woodcuts. We know it was provided by the Causton firm because Shackleton makes reference to the fact in his Preface: "If it had not been for the great generosity of the firm of Sir J. Causton & Sons, Ltd., we would never have had this opportunity of making such a memento of the winter months, for the above firm not only presented us with an entire printing and lithographic outfit including the necessary paper…"
Some but not all of the illustrations are preceded by a title sheet, printed in red and including the title in small caps and the penguin logotype. (The Messman title sheet is all caps.) Some have the title on the same page as the illustration. These details are noted below.
There are a total of 11 illustrations plus an illustrated title page except in those fewer copies (variant B) that have additional text replacing the illustration "Many Shekels Were Needed for the Ship to Go Forth".
Most of the images below are from the online version of the Aurora on the National Library of Australia website.
A typical title sheet.
The following illustrations appear in the Aurora Australis:
Title page
Under the Shadow of Erebus
At the Edge of the Crater
Night Watchman
The Messman
Struggle? for the Broom
In the Stables
Southward Bound
Fourteen Good and True
Many Shekels Were Needed for the Ship to Go Forth
Executing Evolutions in Mid Air
Each Sheltered Under One of the Novel Umbrellas
Title Page
The title page includes in nearly every instance a color lithograph within a sylized border (there are a few instance of the image appearing in black and white). There are two versions: The more common appears to the left below. It includes what appears to be a "propeller" device atop a hill. There are two figures to the left and the sky is filled with the Aurora Australis. The less common on the right is essentially the same but without the "propeller" device. There is, however, a "ghosting" effect evident in the same location as the "propeller". The explanation behind this isn't at all clear to me, at least. What is the "propeller device"? Was it removed during the press run? If so, why? Clive Wilson-Roberts of the Mawson Centre at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide has offered the view that the hill might very well be Mount Erebus and that the "propeller" device might represent steam from the volcano. This seems reasonable but if this is the case why was the depiction so poorly executed?
Under the Shadow of Erebus
This etching is within a border and shows Mount Erebus (with steam being emitted) in the background and the Cape Royds hut in the foreground. The printed title (in caps and lower case) appears below the image. The initials "G.M." (George Marston) appear in the lower right corner. This illustration has no title sheet preceding it. The illustration precedes the article "The Ascent of Mount Erebus" by T. W. Edgeworth David.
At the Edge of the Crater
This appears to be a woodcut print. It is the only illustration in the book that is produced on paper that is different and thinner than that employed for the other illustratons or the text leaves. The view shows four men on one side of the Mount Erebus Crater and a fifth man at the opposite crater edge. Steam and light are rising from the crater. The printed title (in small caps) appears below the image. It is unsigned. This illustration has no title sheet preceding it. The illustration accompanies the article "The Ascent of Mount Erebus" by T. W. Edgeworth David.
Night Watchman
This appears to be an engraved print. It shows the night watchman sitting at a table with a book in front of him and a lighted candle. Arising from his mug are clouds which contain his thoughts. It is preceded by a title sheet. It is unsigned. And it precedes the poem "Midwinter Night", to which it relates with respect to content.
The Messman
This is a lithograph which shows two men, one washing dishes and the second seemingly lighting a cigar. (This illustration in Copy 18, Scott Polar Research Institute, has pencil notations identifying the man on the right as "Ray Priestley" and the man on the left as "W. Roberts".) It is preceded by a title sheet but in this instance the title is not in small caps but in caps. It is unsigned. This illustration typically is tipped-in.
Struggle? for the Broom
This is a lithograph and usually appears in a sepia tone. (There are a few instances where it appears in black and white.) It is preceded by a title sheet. It is unsigned. The scene is at night and shows what is surely Marston's cubicle as there can be seen what looks like a proof or lithographic press. It is clearly different from the Albion letterpress. Both this and the following illustraton precede the chapter "A Pony Watch."
In the Stables
This is a lithograph showing ponies awash in their stables during a storm. It is preceded by a title sheet. It is unsigned. Both this and the previous illustraton precede the chapter "A Pony Watch" but only this illustration relates to the following chapter. This illustration typically is tipped-in.
Southward Bound
This etching shows the Nimrod close-hauled. It is within a stylized border. It is unsigned. It precedes the poem "Southward Bound". The illustraton has no text. It is preceded by a title sheet all in caps which appears to serve both the illustration and the poem.
Fourteen Good and True
This engraving or woodblock print shows the fourteen members of the shore party. It is within a border and is preceded by a title sheet. It appears between the poem "Erebus" and the chapter "An Ancient Manuscript". In Copy 18 at Scott Polar Research Institute each man is identified along with his nickname by Raymond Priestley. The illustration is unsigned. This illustration typically is tipped-in.
The annotated version in Copy 18 at SPRI.
Many Shekels Were Needed for the Ship to Go Forth
This appears to be an engraved print. It shows the Nimrod at dockside. It is on the verso of a leaf which has printed text on the recto. The title appears in small caps below the image. It is unsigned. It is situated within the chapter "An Ancient Manuscript", to which it relates with respect to content. Some copies do not have this illustration but rather replacement text. See
http://www.antarctic-circle.org/aurora.info.htm and http://www.antarctic-circle.org/aurora.mentions.htm#Greene for more information.
Executing Evolutions in Mid Air
This etching shows a fantasy scene and illustrates Mawson's story "Bathybia". It is unsigned. It is preceded by a title sheet.
Each Sheltered Under One of the Novel Umbrellas
This etching shows a fantasy scene and illustrates Mawson's story "Bathybia". It is unsigned. It is preceded by a title sheet.
A Giant Tick Was Investigating the Carcase
Only the title sheet exists and in only in a very few copies. The illustration was never issued. (Actually, not so. The first and so far only copy of the illustration was recently discovered in an Aurora loaned to SPRI. An image will be added here in June 2012.)
The only known example of the illusive plate "A Giant Tick Was Investigating the Carcase"