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Auction: 11029 - Summer Collector's Series sale
Lot: 226

Antarctica 1910-13 British Antarctic Expedition by Robert F. Scott 1913 (14 Feb.) highly important hand-written letter from Edward Leicester Atkinson, on board the Terra Nova, to Captain Ramsey. the harbour master at Oamaru, on "british antarctic expedition/terra nova r.y.s." headed stationery with uncancelled Victoria Land 1d. affixed at top right; some splitting and light soiling. Fine and rare. Photo Estimate £ 2,000-2,400 Note: This letter breaks the news of Commander Scott´s death; Atkinson with thanks for Captain Ramsey´s reception of himself and Pennel when they landed incognito on the night of February 10th to send off the official telegram reporting the fate of of the expedition , mentioning "....great kindness to two complete strangers under suspicious circumstances I think you will appreciate what a fine story is that of the Southern Party and their noble end.....Thank you for you kindness in keeping silent..., " and promising to have Ramsey´s daughter´s autograph book duly filled by all the expedition members. Ramsey´ s discretion was necessitated by the expedition´s exclusive contract with the Central News Agency, who had to be the first to receive the news, to the extent that after landing Atkinson and Pennell, the Terra Nova stood off and cruised around for a day to preserve the embargo. Originally the junior surgeon and parisitoligist, Atkinson was left by default the commander of the expedition during the last winter at Cape Evans provenance: Spink Shreves Galleries, 2009

Sold for
£1,400