Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

Voyage Through the Antarctic – Richard Adams and Ronald Lockley

A first edition published by Allen Lane, London in 1982.

Richard Adams, author of Watership Down struck up a friendship with Ronald Lockley author of The Private Life of the Rabbit whilst researching for Watership. This friendship led to making a full Antarctic voyage on the Linblad Explorer from Tierra del Fuego to Stewart Island of South Island New Zealand.

As would be expected an observant and well written narrative with a super selection of photograph’s taken on the voyage by Peter Hirst-Smith … well he did take three thousand from which to make the selection.

Small quarto, 160 pages, numerous illustrations from photographs, nice chart etc …a very good copy.

Adams and Lockley in the Antarctic and not a rabbit in sight.

$40.00

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In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

Sir John Franklin’s expedition left England in 1845 in search of the northwest passage. Three years later HMS Plover was the first to mount what would be many expeditions in search of the lost crew of the Erebus and Terror.

A Hakluyt Society publication in two octavo volumes published in 1988. 584 pages in total heavily illustrated and in fine as if new condition. There is a super large scale folding map on the Western Esquimaux by Simpson which we have difficulty scanning nicely because of its size.

Of further interest is that this expedition approached from the west whereas analysis of the search for Franklin has tended to focus on eastern approaches. The heart of this book is based on the journals of Captain Rochfort Maguire and it represents the earliest account of sustained contact with the Eskimos of northern Alaska. A detailed introduction regarding the history, strategy and logistics of the search and the conclusion supplemented by other accounts of Dr John Simpson who participated in a five boat expedition from Point Barrow.

Search for Franklin – First from the West

$65.00

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Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries & Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson – Audio Collection

A audio tape (cassette) set of six – representing a five part radio series produced with the assistance of the University of Adelaide Foundation.

Surely a Polar Exploration antique of the future. The programs were produced in the studios of Radio 5UV at the University of Adelaide and broadcast in October 1990. The box set of tapes was produced in 1991.

After an introductory tape we have two tapes covering the AAE expedition and two for the later BANZARE expedition … a final tape “Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson”. The producer and narrator was Helen Oliver with Colin Elix being the voice of Mawson. A distinguished list of contributors includes Fred and Eleanor Jacka who compiled the diaries, Eric Rudd, Patrick Quilty and may others.

Anyone struggling to find a cassette player … get in touch!

An unusual yet special item of Mawson memorabilia.

$150.00

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An Arctic Voyage to Baffin’s Bay and Lancaster Sound in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin – Robert Anstruther Goodsir (Late President of the Royal Medical Society).

A fine facsimile of the pricey 1850 original by Voorst, London. This edition published by The Arctic Press, Plaistow & Sutton Coldfield, England in 1996.

Octavo, viii, 152 pages in original blue cloth covered binding, black end paper, frontispiece and folding map showing the route taken. Limited edition this individually numbered 350 of 500.

The author a distinguished medic undertook an eight month voyage aboard the “Advice” under whaling Captain Penny in search of the missing Franklin expedition in 1849. The author’s brother, Harry Goodsir, was surgeon with Franklin. The journal gives a good description of Baffin’s Bay and Lancaster Sound as well as interactions with Eskimo, ice conditions, bird life, polar bears and whaling etc. The author also joined the second Penny expedition to attempt to find Franklin aboard the “Lady Franklin”

Goodsir in the Arctic looking for Franklin and his brother

$120.00

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Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

Nice condition, quality mount of an unusual subject – Pollen from the Coast of the Antarctic.

Nice deep mount with well preserved coloured mount rings. We are unsure who the preparer was but would suggest they must have been a professional given the mount is in such good shape. The hand written label looks familiar to us but we still cannot pick the preparer.

The location likely in the area immediately south of South America … as these pollen samples would have started life in warmer climes.

Unusual Antarctic Microscope Slide

$50.00

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Polar Hero – Jean-Baptiste Charcot Medal – 1930

Large commemorative medal to celebrate the life of Jean-Baptiste Auguste Etienne Charcot (1867-1936) issued in 1936 under the auspices of Expeditions Polaires Francaises. Charcot Frances greatest polar explorer led two successful expeditions to the Antarctic during the Heroic era. He was a doctor and son of neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.

His first expedition from 1904-1907 in the Francais explored the west coast of Graham Land. This was followed by the 1908-1910 explorations in the Pourquoi-Pas? The subject of the edition offered here. Later he turned his attention to the North and made scientific explorations off Greenland and Svalbard again in the Porquois-Pas? He died when the ship was wrecked in a severe storm off the coast of Iceland in 1936.

This substantial bronze medal, 67mm in diameter and weighing 150 gm celebrates his life. It was designed by E.M. Lindauer, with a bust after Paul Richer. Richer, an anatomical artist, was a colleague of Charcot’s father and worked with him in illustrating certain medical texts. Richer’s sculptures are found in museums around the world including the Musee d’Orsay.

The medal carries a bust of J.B. Charcot on the front acknowledging Paul Richer and on reverse and image of the Pourquoi-Pas? Among icebergs with Expeditions Polaires Francaises above and the ships name below. Very good condition with very strong relief.

An example of this medal sold as lot 79 in the Scott Amundsen Centenary Sale at Bonhams, London in 2012 for A$2,500

Special Antarctic Collectable Celebrates the life of J.B. Charcot

$590.00

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Voyage Through the Antarctic – Richard Adams and Ronald Lockley

In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries & Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson – Audio Collection

An Arctic Voyage to Baffin’s Bay and Lancaster Sound in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin – Robert Anstruther Goodsir (Late President of the Royal Medical Society).

Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

Polar Hero – Jean-Baptiste Charcot Medal – 1930

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