Monday, September 26, 2011

Stock Car Drives in Antarctica

Things get tested in the extreme cold of Antarctica all the time.  I found this article about a Stock Car "racing" in Antarctica interesting.  It was not actually racing, since it was just one stock car, but it sounds like the Argentines just did it because they could and not even a well promoted stunt, as they did not take advantage of testing and sponsorship potential.

Drawings from Scott's Expedition to go on public display for first time ever

Never before publicly displayed drawings from Scott's South Pole expedition will be on display at the Queen's Gallery as part of "The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography" exhibit.  The drawings include one of the black flag that Scott and his men 13 miles from the pole that signified to them that they had lost the race to the pole.  This exhibit will be on display from October 21, 2011 through April 15, 2012.

The exhibit includes images from Scott's 1912 expedition and Shackleton's Endurance expedition.  Both expeditions are known as heroic examples of British exploration in the Antarctica with Scott reaching the South Pole days after Amundsen was the first and dying on the return from the pole and Shackleton successfully getting his whole crew out of the Antarctic after their ship became stuck in the ice and it sunk.

Read more about this here.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Antarctica Related items in Christie's Sale 2362: Travel, Science and Natural History

Christie's Sale 2362: Travel, Science and Natural History includes several Antarctica related items.  Below is more info on the Antarctica related items included in Sale 2362.  These items will be auctioned off on September 29, 2011.  Learn more about the sale and included items on Christie's site here.

Lot 136 Edward Adrian Wilson (1872-1912): Mt. Erebus Aug. 31 1903 - This lot includes a 1903 drawing of Antarctica's Mt. Erebus volcano.  It also includes 6 collotypes of Antarctic subjects. Estimate: £500 - £800

Lot 137 Robert Falcon Scott: Manuscript Record of Bank Account with Messrs. Woodhead & Co., 31 Dec. 1894-31 Dec. 1902 - This is an interesting piece of history related to the fated Antarctic explorer, Robert F. Scott (he died on the way back from South Pole after Amundsen beat him to be first).  These bank records show his early career transactions and how he supported himself and his mother after his father died in 1897. Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 138 The first and second Antarctic Relief Expeditions (1902-1904): Captain William Colbeck's Scrap Album - This lot includes photographs, vintage prints, and letters related to the collection. Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

Lot 139 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904: 42 contact prints - This lot is mostly prints done by Reginald Skelton.  The subjects include Discovery in Winter Quarters at Ross Island, Mount Erebus and the scenery around Hut Point, sledging scenes and camps on the Barrier, and the return of the Southern Party. Estimate: £6,000 - £8,000

Lot 140 Robert Falcon Scott: Two autograph letters signed to Lord Knowles, Admiralty, London, 13 and 28 March 1906 - These are letters written about accepting award and about the King's private permission to wear them. Estimate: £800 - £1,200

Lot 141 Arthur Edward Harbord(1883-1961): 'The voyage of the "Nimrod" to the Antarctic, and return. British Antarctic Expedition 1907', typed transcripts of his journals - This lot includes journals and photos.  Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

Lot 142 Eric Marshall (1879-1963): 'Personal Diary. British Antarctic Expedition. 1907 - 1909', a typed transcript, undated (?1920s), with occasional manuscript corrections, 'Epilogue' signed by Marshall and notes on 'Shackleton's Record' - Estimate: £700 - £1,000

Lot 146 Ernest Henry Shackleton (1847-1922): The Heart of the Antarctic. Being the story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909. London: William Heinemann, 1909. 2 volumes - Unique copy, includes signed double-leaf from The Antarctic Book with all 16 signatures of shore party.  Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

Lot 147 Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922): Autograph letter signed ('Ernest H. Shackleton') to 'My dear Sutton', London, 10 March n.y., referring to a photograph, a book which has not been 'taken up', and some American addresses - Estimate: £400 - £600

Lot 148 Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922): Autograph letter signed ('E.H. Shackleton') to Gerald Christy (the lecture agent), London, 11 August 1910, instructing him to direct lecture fees to Press & Press, solicitors, in Bristol, from 1 October forwards - Estimate: £500 - £800

Lot 149  Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922): Portrait photograph signed ('E.H. Shackleton'), the photograph by Dinham, Torquay, on a postcard, addressed in autograph to Miss Barnardo in Dublin, no postmark - Estimate: £600 - £900

Lot 150 A.W. Sarjeant (photographer): 'S/S Terra Nova Leaving Cardiff for the South Pole' [15 June 1910]; '"Terra Nova" Arriving at Cardiff from South Antarctic Expedition Captained by Commander Evans' [June 14, 1913] - This lot includes photographs of the ship leaving and returning from Antarctic expedition.  Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000

Lot 151 Herbert George Ponting (1871-1935): The Terra Nova at the Icefoot, Cape Evans -  Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 152 Herbert George Ponting (1871-1935): The 'Terra Nova' in McMurdo Sound - Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 153 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910: Signatures of Robert Falcon Scott, Edward A. Wilson, Lawrence Oates, Henry Robertson Bowers, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Edward R.G.R. Evans, E.L. Atkinson, Victor Campbell, G. Murray Levick, Edgar W. Riley, Tryggve Gran, D.G. Lillie, Francis Drake, Henry Rennick and E.W. Nelson - Estimate: £500 - £800

Lot 154 Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912): Autograph letter signed ('R. Scott') to Sir Richard Poore - Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 156 Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912): Testimonials and memorials, 1906-1913, four printed documents with manuscript insertions and one document entirely in manuscript - Estimate: £500 - £700

Lot 157 Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912): Scott's pocket diary for 1910 - Estimate: £6,000 - £10,000

Lot 158 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 Scott's Antarctic Expedition, 1911-2.: On the way to the Pole.; Scott. Wilson. Bowers. Amundsen's Tent.; Oates. Scott. Evans. Bowers Wilson.; Wilson. Evans. Scott. Oates. Bowers.; and Ice Cairn over bodies of Scott - Estimate:  £6,000 - £8,000

Lot 159 George Murray Levick (1876-1956): Adelie penguins - Estimate: £700 - £1,000

Lot 160 Robert Falcon Scott: A vellum leaf (visible area: 39 x 24.7cm.)with the address from the 'CITY OF MANCHESTER TO CAPTAIN ROBERT F.SCOTT, R.N., C.V.O., F.R.G.S. BRITISH ANTARTIC [sic] EXPEDITION1910', dated '28th April 1910' and signed by the Lord Mayor of Manchester - Estimate:  £2,000 - £3,000

Lot 161 Roald Amundsen (1872-1928). Autograph endorsement signed ('Please pay Roald Amundsen') and redirection to 'Mr Gerald Christy' (the lecture agent) on a bill from Sandilands & Sons, London (tailors) - Estimate: £300 - £500

Lot 162  Walter E. How (c.1885-1972)Sir E. Shackleton's "Endurance"; and Captn Scott's "Discovery" - These are watercolors.  Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 163 After Francis James (Frank) Hurley, Herbert George Ponting and others: Slides of the scenes from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1916, and Scott's British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 - Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

Lot 164 Frank Hurley (1885-1962): Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) -  Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000

Lot 165 Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922): Autograph letter signed ('Ernest Shackleton') to Alfred, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, Marlborough Club, London, 28 December 1913 - Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot 171 [DE WIT, Frederick (1630-1706).] Polus Antarcticus. [Amsterdam: c.1680.] Engraved map, surrounding vignettes partially hand-coloured, no text to verso. - This is a map of the Antarctic region before the continent was actually known to exist for sure.  Estimate: £700 - £1,000

Monday, September 12, 2011

Happy Feet Transmitter Connection Lost

Just two weeks after the release of the emperor penguin nicknamed Happy Feet was released in the Southern Ocean to return to Antarctica on its own, the transmitter connection has been lost.  The connection loss is very likely due to the transmitter falling off.  They had thought it would allow them to track the penguin for four to six months, but it has fallen far short of that expectation.  However, it is not too surprising as the transmitter was only glued on in order to try not to be too invasive.  It was only expected to stay on until molting season.

Related Links:

Friday, September 2, 2011

Rugby World Cup to be Broadcasted at Scott Base

For the first time ever, the Rugby World Cup will be beamed to be shown live in Antarctica.  All 48 matches of the Cup will be streamed live to New Zealand's Scott Base, so those wintering over there and possible those from the nearby McMurdo Base can enjoy all the action of the Rugby World Cup.

Learn more about this here.