No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION, 1910-1913

Details

BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION, 1910-1913
Four relics from the expedition recovered by P.O. Thomas Soulsby Williamson, RN:
Leather sledge lashing, 3in. (7.6cm.) long, labelled 'Piece of hide used for sledge lashing that actually went to South Pole with Captain Scott and was found by C.P.O. Williamson when he found Capt. Scott's body very precious TCW' and further recorded by Williamson in his accompanying list ('Hide - found by "Relief Party" amongst the belongings of the "Polar Party" Spare hides were carried by each sledge in case our sledge lashings gave out, this one had apparently not been used')

Red granite, mineral sample, labelled 'Red Granite from S.Victoria Lan[d] T.C.W.' and further recorded by Williamson in accompanying list ('Red granite - found in "South Victoria Land" (Coast Line) during one of my sledge journeys')

Grey Stone, mineral sample, labelled 'Grey stone from Observation Hill T.C.W.' and further recorded by Williamson in his accompanying list ('from Observation Hill' overlooking "Arrival Bay" The Winter Quarters of the "Discovery" 1901-1904, This piece of stone was taken from the hole in which we erected the "Cross" to Capt R.F. Scott R.N. & his brave companions, Lat.77.4'5')

Black Stone, mineral sample, labelled 'Black Stone from top of Mount Erebus TCW' and further recorded by Williamson in his accompanying list ('Black Stone - Taken from the top of Mt. "Erebus"')

together with a one page list of the relics on BAE expedition notepaper, 4°, signed by T.S. Williamson, and a letter of provenance (6)

Provenance

P.O. Thomas Soulsby Williamson, RN (1877-1940), British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, by whom given to Miss Jean Maitland, 16 August 1918 (according to the accompanying letter).

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Williamson, a veteran of Scott's Discovery expedition, joined Scott's Terra Nova expedition as a petty officer, landing at Cape Evans in January 1911, and subsequently returning to New Zealand with the ship. He returned to Cape Evans on the Terra Nova in February 1912 to rejoin the main party. He was in the party which attempted to relieve Campbell's Northern Party in April 1912 and was in Wright's search party which found Scott, Bowers and Wilson's bodies in their tent on the Barrier in November 1912.

More from Exploration and Travel

View All