In 2002, Antarctica, which was published by Pat and Rosemarie Keough and is the inaugural volume in their Explorer Series, was unveiled at Saint James’s Palace at a reception hosted by Prince Charles for the “Save the Albatross” campaign. Royalty from across the globe are among the collectors who already have acquired this book.

Antarctica is unlike any other book on the market. Indeed, one would expect its contents to adorn an art gallery’s walls. Nevertheless, this oversized book is 17.25 inches in width, 13.5 inches in height and 2.5 inches in depth, and at 19.2 pounds (27.5 pounds when incased in its archival box) it weighs as much as a two-year-old child. The 336-page Antarctica contains 330 pages of full-color photographs and is printed on 100-pound cover stock. Using techniques that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, Antarctica is elegantly bound in fine goat leather and presented in an archival box handcrafted from durable Dutch and Irish linen and French-flocked velvet.

Words do little justice for properly conveying the feeling you get from cracking open Antarctica for the first time. Because the imagery is so vibrant and lifelike, you can close your eyes and imagine the South Pole’s brisk air hitting your face. From caves of ice to abandoned settlements, this mysterious land, which some call the last frontier, has never been covered in such glory or detail…until now.

The Keoughs, modern-day explorers, spent three years creating their visual masterpiece, which is already raising eyebrows. In fact, Antarctica has already received numerous accolades, including the Benjamin Franklin Award, which is the Oscar for the international printing and graphics community; the Craft, Art, Science Award from The International Association of Printing House Craftsmen; and first prize at Canada’s Applied Arts Awards in 2002.

Each book is autographed by Queen Noor of Jordan, the honorary president of Birdlife International since all net proceeds of Antarctica will help fund the foundation’s “Save the Albatross” campaign. At $2900 each copy, the Keoughs’ Antarctica is a real find for book collectors, especially since there are only 950 copies available.

For more information, visit www.keough-art.com or E-mail info@keough-art.com or call 1-250-653-4993.