Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2115

(x) Autographs
Antarctic Wilkins Expedition
c.1929-30 two red cloth-bound diaries (10x16cm) written in pencil over 114 pages by the Chief Engineer aboard the RRS William Scoresby, a British research ship that operated in Antarctic waters as part of the Discovery Investigations, recording biological, oceanographic and hydrographical studies. This ship also participated in the 2nd Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic Expedition (1929-30), launching a Lockheed Vega floatplane for flights over Antarctica. Accompanied by 35 original photographs of the ship in ice, the floatplane both on deck and off, views near Deception Island, the post office at Grytviken, South Georgia, whaling, Copper Mountain, De Gerlocke Straits, Shags - Port Lockroy, Joey the Antarctic cat and others, many captioned.

10 October - today we leave Simonstown for S. Georgia.
14 October - we towed some nets and caught a lot of stuff which the scientists think a lot of. Never knew there was such muck in the sea.
20 October - blowing with a high confused sea and swell. We had our first shower of snow, hail and sleet.
21 October - sighted one iceberg and 4 killer whales
22 October Wind is 150 miles per hour, sea is a fury. Cat had kittens today, four. One died, one she laid on, one fell in the milk and got drowned.
28 October - at 3pm arrived at Grytviken
30 October - went for a walk to Shackleton's cairn but snow was too sloppy.
8 November - Sir H Wilkins has been here and has gone on in the factory ship Melville and we follow.
12 November - Station Working (description of taking soundings, related activity, pencil illustration)
16 November - the position of Graham's Land is miles and miles out.
17 November - making for Deception Island
19 November - loading up penguin eggs in a box on the sledge. Photography was out of the question as I could only see a few feet ahead.
24 November - no news yet about Wilkins start. Planes are being tested.
26 November - Wilkins aeroplane went up for a spin but on landing busted the tail landing show. Hard luck.
28 November - left Deception Island and went for a cruise round the islands to take bearings and correct the positions of some on the charts.
1 December - seal hunting
10 December - Melchior Island; saw an iceberg split - tremendous roar was deafening
11 December - in and out of the islands. The scenery is marvellous. Ice cliffs covered with penguins. The copper mountains and glazier are beyond an ordinary description. Arrived at Port Lockray; only used for whaling.
12 December - painted ships name on rock and also "Wilkins Expedition" on another.
14 December - sighted Adelaide Is. Getting near the end of the world now.
20 December - Wilkins is worried; has found the ice is melting fast and is unsuitable for taking off. I have snow blindness.
21 December - have run right down to Charcot Island and got in the pack ice
24 December - Xmas Eve. Cold, snowing, blowing, overcast, gloomy
27 December - Sir H. Wilkins reported heavy snowstorms and had to return. Tucked the plane up to bed.
28 December - chased 3 large blue whales and tried to mark them by shooting our little darts into them. No good though, they "sounded" and went under the ice.
1 January - Happy new year, Dorothy. No luck today with flight.
2 January - been an earthquake at Deception Island
4 January - entered the Neumeyer Channel where we put the plane in the water.
6 January - not going to New Zealand but to Stanley and back to Deception Is. Pick up Wilkins and plane and go south.
18 January - went aboard Discovery 11 for dinner.
30 January - Lat. 70 05 3 Long 100 32W I don't suppose more than 2 other ships have ever been down here.
1 February - sighted emperor penguins as big as men. Fossil specimens have been found.
8 February - the W/T operator overheard a message from Stanley that Deception Is has wire home to Colonial Office and press that they fear the worse, as no news of the William Scoresby. Of course we are in a place never visited before.
12 February - Wilkins wants to catch a ship to Monte Video so we are making a burst for it. Weather is bad.
13 February - tomorrow morning we hope to be in Deception Is and get rid of our friends.
14 February - at 10am got into Deception where we discharged the plane and then went alongside the "Hendrik Ibsen" bound to Monte Video. We discharged all his gear on board and then they pushed off. So that is the finish of the expedition. I'm rather disgusted about the finish of the whole business. Wilkins has evidently played for the press. We leave here on Monday for Stanley where we have a spell, I think.
So now Dorothy this awful diary will cease.
Chorus : Thank Goodness. Photo


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,400