Mostly Mischief, H. W. Tilman — 1st Edition, Signed

Publication: London, Hollis & Carter, 1966

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 191.

Condition Report: Very Good: The original dark blue cloth binding remains remarkably tight and square, displaying sharp corners and bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine that contrasts sharply against the cloth. The hinges are perfectly sound, showing no signs of splitting or weakness. Internally, the text block is firm and the pages are impressively crisp and clean, entirely devoid of foxing, thumbing, or standard previous ownership inscriptions, with only a whisper of age-toning to the text block edges. The unclipped dust jacket, retaining its original '30s NET' price on the front flap, presents beautifully; it exhibits only minor, superficial shelf-wear to the extremities and slight rubbing to the panels, most notably along the flap folds and spine ends, without any significant chips, tears, or loss.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of H. W. Tilman’s Mostly Mischief, published in 1966 by Hollis & Carter.

This particular volume is distinguished by the author's authentic signature on the title page. In his characteristically understated and self-effacing manner, Tilman has neatly struck a blue ink line through his printed name and signed his name directly beneath it, a recognised and highly desirable quirk present in his signed books.

Signed first editions of Tilman's sailing and mountaineering accounts are exceptionally scarce on the open market. While unsigned copies routinely circulate amongst collectors of polar and maritime exploration, copies bearing Tilman's authentic signature, especially featuring his trademark strikethrough, are seldom offered, presenting a premium acquisition for any serious collector of twentieth-century exploration literature. 

Mostly Mischief chronicles four extraordinary voyages undertaken by H. W. 'Bill' Tilman, covering nearly 25,000 miles across both Arctic and Antarctic waters. Aboard his renowned pilot cutter Mischief, Tilman retraces the steps of Elizabethan explorer John Davis to the Northwest Passage, makes a hazardous crossing of Bylot Island, and battles the formidable ice of East Greenland. The narrative culminates in a five-month expedition through the perilous Southern Ocean as skipper of the schooner Patanela, successfully landing a team of climbers on the desolate, glacier-capped Heard Island. Written with Tilman's trademark understated wit, erudition, and bloody-minded resilience in the face of blown-out sails and sprung planks, this volume remains a masterclass in the literature of twentieth-century maritime exploration.