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Polar Exploration — Leski Auctions Pty. Ltd.

Auction House:Leski Auctions Pty. Ltd.Number of lots recorded:67
Sale Title:Polar ExplorationLots with images:67
Auction Location:MelbournePrices available:59
Date:20-Sep-2011
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An account of the Norwegian Expedition of 1894-5 during which the first known landing was made on the Antarctic Continent bull, Henrik Johan. ' The Cruise of the 'Antarctic' to the south polar Regions'. (London & New York : Edward Arnold, 1896); half-title, frontispiece by W.L. Wyllie & 11 plates. Original pictorial cloth, uncut. Provenance: inscribed by J.C. Bull, cousin of the author, on half-title ('To Nina Patrick / From J.C. Bull / with Compl. / 10/8/1901). First Edition. Henrik Bull Undertook This…
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'Nansen and the Frozen North' by John Black [London, 1899] 159pp, photographic frontispiece & illustrations: re-telling of his exploration; hardback, colourful illustrated boards. With ownership stamp & career details of Dr.A.R.Gilchrist, Medical Officer A.N.A.R.E. 1947-68. Also, 'To the White North - The Story of Sir John Franklin' by Kathleen Fidler [London, 1952] 214pp, with illustrations in the text, dust jacket (with faults) and maps. 1st ed. (2)
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Attractive group of Arctic & Antarctic labels comprising a Fridtjof Nansen ice-bound ship image, a Kaestner's oven label featuring expeditioners and an ice-bound ship, a Norddeutscher Lloyd 1914 Polarfahrt label, another undated example and a1926 Amundsen-Nobile-Ellsworth airmail label featuring the Nobile airship 'Norge'. (5)
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Attractive group of scarce polar Expolration related postcards including 1900-03 Swedish Antarctic Expedition, Nansen's north pole Expedition, Shackleton's 1907-09 Expedition, the French Expedition of Sequier and Darcis, an amusing 'Mother Earth' complaining about 'Worms' causing her itchiness in her polar regions, etc. (8)
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'The Canterbury Times New Zealand /Series of Antarctic Pictures' postcard featuring 'A White Giant Petrel' franked ¾d mount Cook tied with Oamaru datestamp for May 1904 use to Dunedin.
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Arctic: c1905 Keystone stereo-cards, depicting 'Transportation Over Icy Trails North of the Arctic Circle, Alaska' (dog sled), 'An Eskimo Family at Fort Magnesia, Cape Sabine, Ellesmere Island' and 'Floating Whale Station, Spitzbergen' (shows whale carcasses being towed behind factory ship). Scarce subjects. (3 items)
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1908 (Feb 27) usage of 1d King Edward VII Land overprint (Royle) tied by green Brit.Antarctic Expd' cds (with the same cds in black alongside) on cover to Kinsey, the Expedition's N.Z. representative, in Christchurch. Official cover with 'British Antarctic Expedition 1907' imprint on back flap. British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 led by Ernest Shackleton on 'Nimrod' - The Nimrod Expedition wintered on Ross Island. The expedition's successes included the furthest south 88°17's (156km or 97 miles from the…
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1908 postcard for the Captain Peary north pole Discovery Expedition, with an illustration of the S.S. 'Roosevelt' at left. Very fine unused.
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Peary North Pole Expedition: Kawin (Chicago) postcards No.2 (Deaparture of Commander Peary), No.3 (Steamer 'Roosevelt'), No.4 (Commander Peary and Captain Moses Bartlett), No.5 (The Crew and Captain of the 'Roosevelt'), No.8 (Commander Peary in his Library), No.9 (Commander Peary's wife and children) & No.10 (Commander Peary and his youngest son, Robert). This lot and the subsequent groups of Kawin postcards were issued in 1909 and illustrate the controversy then raging over the competing claims of who got…
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Peary north pole Expedition: Kawin (Chicago) postcards No. 12 (Peary's ship fast in the ice packs), No. 13 (Provision dog train), No. 14 (Halted by drifting ice), No. 15 (How provisions were stored..), No. 17 (travelling under difficulties), No. 18 (Peary's party in a hard climb), No. 19 (Peary and sailing master..). (7)
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Peary North Pole Expedition: Kawin (Chicago) postcards No.21 (Group of Eskimos), No.22 (Difficult camp in the Arctic), No.24 (After a hunting trip), No.25 (Steamer 'Roosevelt' ice bound); also the Cook North Pole Expedition: postcards No.26 (Dr.Frederick A. Cook in arctic dress), No.27 (The schooner 'Bradley' ice bound), No.28 (Schooner 'John R, Bradley'), No.29 (Dr. Cook starting out on his dash to the Pole). (8)
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Cook & Peary North Pole Expeditions: Kawin (Chicago) postcards No.30 (Traveling Northward by Sledge train), No.32One of the White Bears killed while attacking the explorers), No.33 (Ice hummocks in pathless waste), No.34 (Icebergs off of Greenland), No.36 (A Polar camp.), No.37 (Hauling in a walrus), No.38 (Aluminum sledge used by Dr. Cook for final dash.) & No.39 (Map showing routes taken by Cook and Peary). (8)
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Cook & Peary North Pole Expeditions: Kawin (Chicago) postcards No.40 (Dr. Cook's Eskimo bodyguard), No.41 (Interesting home group of Dr. Cook's wife and children), No.41 (Cook party on ice floes in Arctic seas.), No.43 (J.R. Bradley loaded with supplies), No.44 (Schooner John R. Bradley ready for the Arctic voyage), No.45 (Musk ox), No.46 (Explorer Cook in camp), No.47 (Dog Trains), No.48 (Crew of Schooner John R. Bradley), No.49 ('Whose little Girlie are you?') & No.50 Hoisting the Stars and Stripes at…
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1908 Richard Seim, Dresden advertising labels: of common design and all headed 'Auf! zum Nordpol' and each depicting an Arctic explorer: James Clarke Ross, Leutnant Peary, Kapitan John Franklin, A.E. Nordenskjold, Fridtjof Nansen & Kapitan Parry. Mainly fine and extremely rare. (6)
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1909 (Sept.17) autographed letter from Edward Evans to Conrad Fry, on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead regarding Fry's subscription of £25 towards the expedition and assuring him that Fry's chocolates would be informed of the 'exact quantities required' of chocolate and cocoa. 'Messrs. Cadbury, & Rowntree have already applied to supply these items but no steps will be taken until Messrs. Fry have had the matter fully under consideration.'
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1909 (Sept.22) autographed letter on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead from Edward Evans to Conrad Fry, regarding the preparation of provisions lists for the forthcoming Expedition and advising that he '..Will Let You Know Exact Quantities and Qualities of Chocolate and Cocoa Required...No Tender For the Supply of Chocolate Will Be Accepted Before Your Firm Has Been Considered.' Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, KCB, DSO (1881 - 1957), Known As 'Teddy' Evans,…
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1909 (Nov.3) autographed letter from Robert Falcon Scott to Conrad Fry, on 'British Antactic Expedition, 1910' letterhead regarding a letter of endorsement Fry's proposed publishing regarding the fact that Fry's chocolates would be among the provisions to be taken to the Antarctic and thanking him for some samples. Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Cvo (1868 - 1912) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition of 1901-04, and the ill-fated…
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1910-13 British Antarctic Expedition: 'The Undying Fire' by H.G.Wells (London, 1919) signed by the author and endorsed 'To Cherry-Garrard, with Warmest Thanks For His Penguins, From H.G.Wells'. Together with two other H.G.Wells books - 'The First Men in the Moon' (London, 1901) and 'Phoenix - a Summary of the Inescapable Conditions of World Reorganisation' (London, 1942). Aspley cherry-Garrard (1886-1959) was an English explorer of Antarctica. He was a survivor on the Terra Nova Expedition and is acclaimed…
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British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13: Edward Kebel Chatterton (1878-1944) 'Sailing Ships and their Story' [London, 1909] 362pp, 64 plates, 3 folding plans. Original blue decorative cloth. A book from the 'Terra Nova' library. Provenance: Author's presentation copy, including inscription 'To the Officers and crew of the 'Terra Nova', R.Y.S., wishing them God-speed, a successful expedition and a safe return....June 2 1910'. From the estate of Patrick O. Keohane, crew member on the 'Terra Nova'.
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Complete set of Poster Stamps advertising Amundsen's Fram Expedition books 'Die Eroberung des Sudpols' published in German by J.F. Lehmann's Verlag, Munich. These mini-posters, designed and printed by Marken-Kunst Munich, 1912, were used as advertising on letters sent through the mail. Each approx. 55 x 40 mm. Lithographically printed in full colour. A superb set in excellent condition. Roald Amundsen's South Pole expedition (1910-1912) was a Norwegian expedition aiming to be the first to reach the South…
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New Zealand Antarctic: 1911 (Sg.A3) 1d carmine 'Victoria Land' overprints, block. (4)
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New Zealand Antarctic: 1911 (Sg.A3) 1d carmine 'Victoria Land' overprints, block. (4)
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1911 (Jan.20) autographed letter from Raymond Priestley on 'British Antarctic Expedition - Terra Nova R.Y.S.' letterhead, written from 'Camp at Cape Royds' and sent to Frys: 'I understand.....that you never got my letter of thanks written from King Edwards Land or as near to it as we got....' signed in full while in the Antarctic.
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1911 (Sept.17) usage of 'Deutsche Sudpolar Expedition' vignette in unusual combination with Argentinian 5c on Rp postcard to Germany. Both adhesives tied by Buenos Aires cancel. Most examples of the expedition vignette were used when the ship had reached South Georgia and therefore bear Falkland Islands stamps; this usage, en route, is very unusual. German Polar Expedition 1911-12 led by Wilhelm Filchner on 'Deutschland' The Expedition visited South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and surveyed the…
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'Brit.Antarctic Expd. Ja 18 / 13' cds tieing 1d Victoria Land adhesive on 'Terra Nova R.Y.S.' lettersheet; together with an unused envelope with the expedition logo printed on the back flap. From the estate of Edward Evans. (2 items)
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1913 (Jan.17) autographed letter from Griffith Taylor, on 'Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Home Affairs' letterhead, further endorsed 'Geological Survey, Fed. Capital, Australia'; to 'Messrs Fry, Bristol'. Taylor explains that on the occasion of his birthday, 1st December 1911 'my party in the Antarctic (B.A.E.1910 Western Geological Expedition) reached our destination at Granite Harbour....and to celebrate the double event a feast was decided upon.....I went off and killed the necessary seal &…
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1913 (April 19) autographed letter, headed 'University of Sydney' (3 sides) from J.W. Edgeworth-David to 'Silas' Wright regarding their on-going discussions regarding 'the Barrier', 'Salinity & the open pools of water in Ross Sea..', etc. In mid-1907 Edgeworth David was invited to join Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition to the Antarctic and in December won Australian Government funding for the expedition. The same month he left for New Zealand with Leo Cotton and Douglas Mawson, two of his former students.…
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1913 (April 19) autographed 2-page letter, on 'The University of Sydney' letterhead from J.W. Edgeworth-David to 'Silas' Wright regarding his application for the position of Chair of Physics at the University of Columbia. He also raises the issue of their unfinished discussions about the origin of the Ross Barrier, the character of Captain P.F. Evans and the planned visit of the British Association to Sydney in August 1914.
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1913 (July 30) autographed letter on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead from Edward Evans to Fry & Sons, regarding the Antarctic postcards the company was about to publish: 'The series of Antarctic pictures you are publishing I consider to be most instructive and interesting, the details are wonderfully correct...'
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1913 (August 2) autographed letter on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead, from J. Hugh Mather (Petty Officer on S.Y.'Terra Nova' - ship used by Scott on the 1910-13 Antarctic Expedition) to 'Silas' Wright regarding the sale of 'the Scientific Instruments you have brought back...'
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1913 (Sept.6) autographed letter on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead to 'Silas' Wright, from Edward Evans, writing to ask Wright for 'the Chronometer journal that was used in the hut.' Scott had offered Evans a position with his second expedition as a means of persuading him to drop plans for his own competing expedition to explore King Edward VII Land. However, it was an uneasy working relationship, as Scott continued to regard Evans as a rival. In Antarctica, Evans was initially in charge…
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1913 (Sept.13) autographed letter (2 sides) on 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910' letterhead to 'Silas' Wright, from Edward Evans, the follow-up letter regarding the 'Chronometer Journal' [see previous lot]. On this occasion he is asking Wright for the 'Chronometer comparison book'.....'Also, have you got the Data Book which I would like to see if possible?' There is also some discussion about collection, storage and access to the photographs from the Expedition. An important insight into the…
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1913 (October 20) autographed letter (2 sides) on 'Deutsche Sudpolar-Expedition' letterhead, from Professor Erich von Drygalski in Munich to 'Silas' Wright regarding his publications following his polar Expeditions and asking for copies of the B' publications. Together with the carbon copy of Wright's response. Drygalski led the first German south polar expedition with the ship Gauss to explore the unknown area of Antarctica lying south of the Kerguelen Islands, the expedition started from Kiel in the…
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1913 (Dec.11) autographed letter to 'Silas' Wright from J.J. Thomson on 'Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge' letterhead, thanking Wright for a gift to the Laboratory of equipment that had been used during the scientific experiments in the Antarctic. Thomson was chosen to be the third Cavendish Professor in 1884. He presided over a flourishing of experimental physics at the Cavendish. Supported by his administration and teaching, many important experiments on electromagnetism and atomic particles were…
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1914 (May 7) autographed letter (2 sides) from Harry Pennell, on 'H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh' letterhead (at Trieste) to 'Dear Silas' (Wright). 'We Are Doing a 4 Day Stint at Trieste Being Entertained Royally and Soberly By the Austrians, They Have Too Much Sense to Suppose That the Only Form of Hospitality Is to Try and Make a Man Drunk....If the English Must Have Ententes Why Not Have Them with Either the Austrians Or Germans, I.E. People It Is a Pleasure to Meet.' Lieutenant Harry L.L. Pennell, Royal Navy…
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1914 (June 5) autographed note from A.S. Eddington to 'Silas' Wright, on 'Royal Astronomical Society' letterhead, suggesting Wright accompany him to an R.A.S. dinner, where his 'ambitions for geodetic apparatus' could be advanced in conversation with Herbert Hall Turner, Secretary of the R.A.S. Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington, Om, Frs (1882 - 1944) was a British astrophysicist. The Eddington limit, the natural limit to the luminosity of stars, or the radiation generated by accretion onto a compact object, is…
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1915 (Jan. 17) autographed letter on 'Ritz-Carlton Hotel, New York' letterhead from Douglas Mawson, writing to Simpson for assistance in completing the preparation of his set of lecture slides. He also makes reference to his Expedition comrades Mertz, Ninnis and Capt. Davis, the 'War Eclipses Everything' and that he is about to leave New York to deliver a lecture in Philadelphia. 'Some of the shades that you toned the slides are superb for the subjects and have called forth general admiration.' (2 pages,…
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1916 (Aug.7) autographed one-page letter headed 'North Western Hotel, Liverpool' from Douglas Mawson to the same correspondent as the previous letter, 'I am on Russian Government munitions work up here....' and fully signed. Mawson was knighted, and was back in England by the outbreak of World War I. Mawson served in the war as a Major in the British Ministry of Munitions. Returning to Adelaide he pursued his academic studies, taking further expeditions abroad, including a joint British, Australian and New…
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Group of coloured Roald Amundsen 'Fram' Ppc's with sailing ship taken on the 'Maud' expedition through the North-West Passage, the ship ice bound, the ice bound ship with explrer and dog, the ship and a polar bear & 2 polar bears watching the ship in the distance. All with very fine'Polhavet' cds's tieing Norwegian stamps for delivery to Denmark. (5)
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1919 (Dec. 10) autographed letter (2 sides) on 'Mitre Hotel, Oxford' notepaper, to 'Silas' Wright from Victor Campbell; regarding their plans to get together over a meal at the army and Navy club. Campbell adds, rather amusingly, 'I Am Calling You Major Wright, If You Are a General Or An Admiral Forgive Me.' from 1910, Campbell was first Officer on Scott's Terra Nova expedition, after arriving in Antarctica in January 1911, his role was to lead an Eastern party of 6 men to explore and carry out scientific…
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1920 (March 15) autographed letter on 'the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition' letterhead, from Hubert Wilkins, Chief of Scientific Staff, to 'Silas' Wright regarding an application from a scientist for a position with the Expedition. Wilkins was second in command with the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition from 1920-21. Following this effort, he returned to Antarctica in 1921 with Sir Ernest Shackleton's (1874-1922) Quest Expedition as a naturalist.
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1920 (March 25) autographed letter on 'the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition' letterhead, from Hubert Wilkins, Chief of Scientific Staff, to 'Silas' Wright regarding an application from Professor Crerar for a position with the Expedition. Wilkins was second in command with the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition from 1920-21. Following this effort, he returned to Antarctica in 1921 with Sir Ernest Shackleton's (1874-1922) Quest Expedition as a naturalist.
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Small group of postcards incl. Commander MacMillen's schooner, the 'Bowdoin', a view of Wilkes Aat, Admiral Byrd's 'City of New York', etc. Mainly fine. Also several Aat Base cancelled covers of the 1950s-60s. (15 items)
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Sir Hubert Wilkins, Silver gelatin photograph by Williams (N.Y.); c1928, signed in image & titled in pen lower left 20 x 15 cm
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Falkland Islands: 1929-36 (Sg.116-126, ex 116a) ½d to £1 Kgv Whale & Penguin set incl. the line perf. varieties (apart from ½d) with £1 a left marginal example. All are fresh with the barest evidence of a previous hinge. Cat.£790+. (15)
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The 1930-31 'Discovery' Expedition to Antarctica: cover bearing 1½d Sturt, tied by superb 'B.A.N.Z. 1930-31 Antarctic Research Exp.' handstamp; self-addressed to S.A.C. Campbell. Stuart Alexander Caird Campbell (1903-1988), air force officer, aviator. On 26 April 1926 he enlisted in the R.A.A.F. He completed flying training and was commissioned on 1 November. Promoted to flying officer in 1927, he was posted to No.101 Flight, which was surveying the Great Barrier Reef. In 1929 he served in the…
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The 1930-31 'Discovery' Expedition to Antarctica: cover bearing 1½d Canberra, tied by superb 'B.A.N.Z. 1930-31 Antarctic Research Exp.' handstamp; self-addressed to S.A.C. Campbell, pilot/postmaster Banz Expedition. Additional strike on back.
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Russia: Zeppelins: 18 July 1931 (S.120Aa & Ab) Polar Flight, complete imperforate Zeppelin set on a registered postcard and cover, addressed to Friedrichshafen. Stamps tied by Malyguin Icebreaker cds, flight cachets in red. Very fine. (2)
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1931 (May) Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition cover, with cachet in black & straight-line 'New York to North Pole'; USA 2c & Falkland Islands 1d (tied by 29OC28 cds) with green 'Wilkins Antarctic Expedition/Deception Island' cachet at right. In 1928, the Australian Hubert Wilkins & the Canadian Carl Ben Eilson had undertaken the first powered flight in Antarctica, taking off from an improvised ash runway at Whalers Bay. This cover was then included in the 1931 Arctic Submarine mail.
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1931 (May) Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition registered cover, signed by Wilkins, with cachet in purple & straight-line 'New York to North Pole'; USA 2c tied by New York duplex and addressed to New York. Additionally with Gb Kgv 1½d's tied on arrival at London (Oct.1931) and forwarded to addressee.
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1931 (May) Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition registered cover, signed by Wilkins, with cachet in purple & straight-line 'New York to Bergen'; USA 2c & 5c tied by New York duplex and addressed to Wisconsin. Additionally with Norwegian 60ore tied by Bergen cds.
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1931 (May) Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition cover, signed by Wilkins, with cachet in purple & 'New York to North Pole'; USA 2c tied by New York duplex and addressed to New Jersey. Additionally with Gb Kgv ½d's tied on arrival at London (Oct.1931) and forwarded to addressee.
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1931 (May) Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition cover, signed by Wilkins, with cachet in purple & 'Bergen to North Pole'; USA 2c, Gb 1½d Kgv & Norwegian 10ore adhesives tied en route and forwarded to addressee in New York. With original enclosure.
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Unsigned examples of the Wilkins-Ellsworth Expedition covers; both with US & Gb frankings and the special cachet. (2)
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1931 Polarflight Zeppelin flown postcard; registered on-board the ice-breaker 'Malyguin' and carried from Archangel via the North Pole to Germany. With Imperforate 30k & 1R North Pole flight stamps tied by 'Malyguin' cds's. Very fine.
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1948 (Mar.7) Macquarie Island registered cover, with two line cachet 'Australian National Antarctic/Research Expedition 1947' and arrival backstamps; also, a non-registered cover sent on the same day. [Written by Expeditioner Gunter Weller to his children]. (2)
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Australian Antarctic Territory: Collection of registered Base cancelled covers comprising Davis (1957 & 1960), Heard Island (1953), Macquarie Island (1951, 1954, 1957 & 1961), Mawson (1954, 1955, 1960 & 1961) & Wilkes (1959 & 1960). (13)
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Tristan Da Cunha: 1952 (Sg.1-12) set. Superb. (12)
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Australian Antarctic Territory: Base cancelled covers from Davis (1962-69), Macquarie Island (1960-65) & one from Mawson (1966). (18)
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Tristan Da Cunha: 1961 (Sg.42-54) set. Superb. (13)
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British Antarctic Territory Stamps: 1963-88 collection on album pages and Hagners, Almost complete Muh and used, missing a few 1973 and 1975 definitives. The 1973 used definitives as a Fdc. Mixed condition, a small number Mh, vast majority fine. Cat. Sg £1000+. (315+)
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French Southern & Antarctic Territories: 1965 (Ceres.9a) 30Fr I.T.U. Centenary Imperforate, Sheet No. corner block Muh. Cat.1600Eu.-. (4)
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1965 (Ap 1) 'Argentine Islands Grahamland' cds's tieing B.A.T. 1d & 1½d adhesives on cover to England; the cover signed by the British personnel stationed there that year.
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A.A.T.: 1967 (Feb.17) 1c-1 Pictorials set on two Apo official first day covers cancelled at Mawson, both with typed addresses. (2)
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Australian Antarctic Territory: 1966-7 1c-1 Pictorials, complete set in sheets of 48. Hard to find in quantity. (528)
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Australian Antarctic Territory: 1966-7 1c-1 Pictorials, complete set matching sheet number blks of 8. (88)
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An original oil painting of the Antarctic Research vessel the 'Nella Dan' by the Danish/Australian artist, Ib Odfeldt (b.1944). Signed & dated 1995 at lower right; 29.5 x 45 cm. Marked on verso '18 Nella' and 'PWO2895'. Accompanied by research notes about the ship and the artist.
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