Curiosities

Jean-Baptiste Charcot – Polar Explorer – Commemorative Bronze Medal – 1936

Large commemorative medal to celebrate the life of Jean-Baptiste Auguste Etienne Charcot (1867-1936) struck by the French Mint, 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, if not fine 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 just short of A$2,500

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

$940.00

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Cathedral Galvanometer [Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co Ltd] – 1915

A fully operational cathedral design galvanometer made the A.T.M. Co Ltd (Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company). In good working order and very clean internally. 18cms high and heavy at 1.6 kgs so really only practically sent domestically in Australia.

This is a single coil galvanometer no manufacturers markings but definitely a design by Liverpool England based A.T.M Co Ltd which was formed in 1911. We would date the instrument between then and 1920. A.T.M. Co Ltd made a significant contribution in WWI including making Crystal Radios for the Royal Flying Corps. It is certainly and early one as it has stop pins at the end of the scale on each side which were later abandoned. The needle sits perfectly vertical on a central zero when the galvanometer is aligned facing due north or south. Stamped with a 30 on the back which indicates a coil resistance of 30ohms. On the back there are 2 cheese head terminal screws. The instrument is used to accurately measure low DC voltages.

Automatic postage allowance will not cover this item … but we will make up the difference!

Nice early 20thC Telegraphic Cathedral Galvanometer

$130.00

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A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder – James De Mille -1900

Published by Harper, New York in 1900. A very good clean copy of this Utopian, Hollow Earth fantasy. By James De Mille and in true Jules Verne style.

Octavo with original deep red cloth covered boards with black and gilt lettering and device. 291 pages, frontispiece of the author and seven plates.

During a voyage in the yacht Falcon in 1850 a strange copper cylinder is retrieved from the Ocean. It contains the manuscript of Adam More of Keswick, Cumberland. His is an incredible tale. He was crewing on a vessel taking convicts to Van Dieman’s Land in 1843. On the return journey they went by Desolation Island where they were becalmed … venturing out to catch seal the got into all sorts of trouble and eventually found themselves in an unusual world with the Antarctic among strange people, strange creatures and strange goings on. Regarded as one of the best in the genre …

From Hobart Town to the centre of the Antarctic and the people that live there

SO SORRY SOLD

$150.00

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Commemorative Medal – The Andree Balloon Expedition – Issued 1930 on the Discovery of the Party Lost in 1897.

A original and rare bronze medallion issued in Sweden following the discovery of the bodies of the ill-fated Andree Balloon expedition towards the North Pole.

On the 5th and 6th of August 1930, a Norwegian Expedition, on board the “Brtvaag” of Aalesund, which was equipped both for scientific investigation and sealing, when on its way to Franz Joseph Land went on shore on the south-western point of White Island, which forms the easternmost portion of the Svalbard (Spitzbergen) Archipelago. The scientific leader of the expedition was Gunnar Horn, a geologist, representing the Norway Svalbard and Polar Sea Research Institution. On landing, on the 6th August, the sealers of the party discovered the remains of the Swedish Andree Expedition, which had been lost thirty-three years before.

This rare bronze medal was struck by the Swedish Geographical Society in 1930 to commemorate the original expedition and the finding of the bodies and relics. Designed by Alfred Ohison. 56mm in diameter with conjoined busts of the expedition leader Salomon August Andree (1854-1897), Nils Strinberg (1872-1897) and Knut Fraenkel (1870-1897). Their names are engraved along with “Andrees Polarexpedition 1897”

On the reverse is a map of Spitzbergen, Svalbard and Kvitoya with the path of the balloon delineated and a soaring eagle. Engraved around the outside is the expression “De djarva polarforskaranas staft aterbordades till fosterjorden 1930” which translates as “the dust of the polar explorers was taken back to their native land in 1930”. Very good condition albeit with a stain on the bust at front.

Andree was Sweden’s first balloonist. Sweden had fallen behind in terms of Polar exploration and his plans to be the first to fly a hydrogen balloon over the North Pole, expecting to land in Russia or Canada inspired the nation. Unfortunately, things did not work out. The diaries and records recovered were so comprehensive that a book about the tragedy published in 1930 is a pretty special record of events. An English translation was made that same year … Voyager has very good copy with explorer provenance.

Commemorates the incredible attempt of Andree and his fellow balloonists and the eventual resolution of their disappearance

$420.00

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Original Exploration Medallion Celebrating Adolf Nordenskiold’s Voyage in the Vega exploring and conquering the Northeast Passage. Lindberg 1879.

Silvered bronze medal designed by Lindberg issued in Sweden in 1879. 4 cm 11.5 gm .. good condition with much of the original silvering remaining intact.

Bust of Nordnskiold to one side with his name and that of the designer. On reverse “Nordost Passagen Fullbordad 1878-79” … Northeast Passage Completed. Some age generally good to better condition.

Baron Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiold (1832-1901) was a Finish Arctic explorer and geologist. He was a member of a prominent scientific exploration family of that name.

Born in the Grand Duchy of Finland which at the time was part of the Russian Empire. He moved to Sweden to escape persecution and became a member of the Swedish parliament and the Academy.

His greatest accomplishment was Vega Expedition of 1878/79 which constituted the first complete crossing of North-east Passage

19th Century commemorative of important voyage and explorer.

$180.00

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Magic Lantern Slide – Cartographic Material – The Ross Dependency – Antarctica c1923 on Its Formation

An original magic lantern slide showing clearly the New Zealand Ross Dependency, by Newton & Co.

The Ross Dependency takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross ho discovered the Ross Sea and Victoria Land in 1841 and claimed the region for Britain.

The region is defined by a sector originating at the South Pole and passing along longitude 160 degrees east and 150 degrees east and stopping at latitude 60 degrees south.

On 30th July 1923 an order was published in the Government Gazette of the Dominion of New Zealand that the region should be named the “Ross dependency”’ and that the Governor-General and Commander in Chief of New Zealand will be Governor of the Territory.

Newton & Co were formed in 1858. In the period 1912-1925 they had premises in Covent Garden. S we are pretty sure that the slide comes from 1923 and was prepared for presentations concerning these changes.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8cm by 8cm.

Historic Cartographic record – the formalisation of the Ross Dependency in the Antarctic

$50.00

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Jean-Baptiste Charcot – Polar Explorer – Commemorative Bronze Medal – 1936

Cathedral Galvanometer [Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co Ltd] – 1915

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder – James De Mille -1900

Commemorative Medal – The Andree Balloon Expedition – Issued 1930 on the Discovery of the Party Lost in 1897.

Original Exploration Medallion Celebrating Adolf Nordenskiold’s Voyage in the Vega exploring and conquering the Northeast Passage. Lindberg 1879.

Magic Lantern Slide – Cartographic Material – The Ross Dependency – Antarctica c1923 on Its Formation

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