Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

Russian Antarctic Treaty Medal – Leningrad Mint – 1991

A scarce Antarctic medal celebrating the thirty year anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty.

Cast in bronze, 65mm in diameter, 154 gm. Very strong relief and in fine condition.

The Antarctic Treaty regulates international relations regarding Antarctica. It was signed by 54 parties and came into effect in 1961. The treaty established Antarctica as a scientific preserve with freedom of scientific investigation, banning military interest. The Secretariat is based in Buenos Aires. The Soviet Union being one of twelve countries at the time that had activities on the continent.

The face of the medal has a penguin and young one over a high relief map of Antarctica. Images of a ship, aeroplane and snowmobile representing investigation by sea, air and land. Around the outside “Antarctic Treaty” in the four official languages English, French, Russian and Spanish.

On the reverse a compass sign over another smaller continental image and a dominant Dove of Peace, with appropriate sentiments in Cyrillic.

Antarctic Treaty Celebration – Scarce Russian Medal.

$130.00

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Two Voyages to the South Seas – Dumont D’Urville – 2 Volumes

Two large volumes published by the University Press Melbourne 1987. Cream linen covered boards protected by a slipcase, a flicker of age on the spines otherwise very good condition.

Reissued from the original French translated by Helen Rosenman.

Volume I – 312 pages deals with the voyages of the Astrolabe 1826-1829 and,

Volume II – pages 313-634 the voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee 1837-1840.

Nicely illustrated with 29 maps and charts and 56 plates – some in colour. This is the first account in English of two important voyages to Australasia the Pacific and the Antarctic. The Astrolabe visited Hobart Town, Jervis Bay and Port Jackson whilst the second voyage went to Port Essington as well as Tasmania (again) and the Antarctic. A superb account of the people and natural history encountered. An essential Antarctic item for that element.

Two Special French Voyages by D’Urville

$170.00

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Antarctic Scenes Set of Six – Liebig Trade Cards 100 Years Old

A group of six decorative trade cards by Liebig advertising their tasty Bouillon Oxo. Printed and issued around 1910. In German with a very good description the rear of the card … a good language lesson.

Delightful chromolithographs depicting Cape Renard; Cockburn Island; an Iceberg in the Weddelll Sea; Cape Crozier; the Glacial area between the Ross and Weddell Seas and a striking image of Erebus erupting.. Each 10cms x 7.3cms.

Scarce six card set rarely found together.

$80.00

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Farthest North [The Voyage of the Fram] – Fridtjof Nansen – 1898

Farthest North: Being the Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship Fram 1893-96, and of a Fifteen Month’s Sleigh Journey by Dr Nasen and Lieut Johansen.

Two volumes large octavo 480 pages and 456 pages after preliminaries before advertisements etc, large folding coloured map at rear of Volume I, coloured plate illustrated with a multitude of photographs and sketches by Nansen.

Published by George Newnes, London in 1898. A second edition after the first in 1897 but our preferred as there was a switch to these stunning pictorial covers are a hallmark of this set. Internally some insignificant marks and some rubbing to the cover spine ends and tips, hinges a trifle loose. On the whole the covers still remarkably bright, overall a very good set.

Nansen undertook this expedition to prove his theory that a drift current moved across the northern polar regions from the Bering Straits and New Siberia Islands towards the Greenland Coast. The theory had been supported by finding, near Greenland, parts of the ship Jeannette which was wrecked in 1881 in the Bearing Straits. Nansen’s ship, the Fram, was designed specially to cope with the risk of being crushed in an ice-pack. Built in Scotland the theory was that the Fram would be deliberately frozen into the ice and the design would lift the boat higher rather than crush it from the sides. They set off in June 1893 and successfully achieved this primary objective, the ship returning to Norway in 1896. Meanwhile, Nansen and Johansen had left the ship with husky drawn sleds in an attempt to reach the North Pole. They failed in this endeavour, as their dogs deteriorated, but still managed to reach the point “Farthest North” yet attained by man.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) was a very talented individual. He held a doctorate in zoology, contributed to the field of neurology, worked a a museum curator and a was great athlete. Prior to this expedition he was the first to explore the interior of Greenland on skis

Nansen’s Farthest North in our favourite Pictorial Bindings

SO SORRY SOLD

$420.00

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Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

Maritime hero Alan Villiers brings his undoubted experience to this adventure book aimed at young boys.

A new edition and first of its type, Angus and Robertson 1964. Octavo, 248 pages with ten full pages illustration from woodcuts by Charles Pont. A little aging to page edges and gift inscription back of half title, nice bright jacket, all up a pretty good copy.

Endpaper maps of the voyage from Hobart, Tasmania down to Macquarie Island; the Balleny Islands; the Ross Sea; Grahams Island before heading north to Montevideo.

A Norwegian expedition picks up some extra crew at Hobart, a motely band of youths and a stow away, little Alfie, who appears at Macquarie Island. Adventure ensues.

Alan Villiers, a yarn about Whaling, from personal experience.

$35.00

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The Iceland Journals of Henry Holland 1810 – Edited Andrew Wawn

The British had visited Iceland for many years, but little was written about it before this expedition.

Led by Sir George Mackenzie accompanied by a party of young Edinburgh scientists. Among them was Henry Hall, who later became a physician to Queen Victoria in London. Hall was 22 at the time of the expedition.

The object of the exercise was to explore and investigate several volcanic regions to contribute to the important and controversial mineralogical debate that was then taking place in Europe. There are three fundamental journeys … to Gullbringusfsala; the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Rangarvallasyla.

On return Mackenzie published the first good account on Iceland for over forty years … “Travels in the Island of Iceland etc”. Henry Hall had kept a detailed diary which, never published was retained in family hands until gifted by them to a Reykjavik institution.

The author of this work, Andrew Wawn, carried out the sort of research expected of a Hakluyt contributor concluded that Mackenzie’s published work relied heavily on Hall’s manuscript without acknowledgement. Furthermore, Hall’s more detailed and in the moment account contained much missed by his illustrious leader … so here we have it.

Published by Hakluyt in 1987. Octavo, 342 pages after preliminaries. The extent of Wawn’s work in bringing this account to life is clear from the 70-page introduction. Then we have 200 pages of the text of the journals illustrated by numerous sketches made by Hall. Followed by several useful appendices. A very good copy.

Hall’s missing journals on Iceland 1810.

$50.00

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Russian Antarctic Treaty Medal – Leningrad Mint – 1991

Two Voyages to the South Seas – Dumont D’Urville – 2 Volumes

Antarctic Scenes Set of Six – Liebig Trade Cards 100 Years Old

Farthest North [The Voyage of the Fram] – Fridtjof Nansen – 1898

Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

The Iceland Journals of Henry Holland 1810 – Edited Andrew Wawn

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