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Auction: 344 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale at Grand Hyatt, NY INC
Lot: 896

Roald Amundsen (1872-1928). Silver (.830) Spoon commemorating the Amundsen-Ellsworth Flight to 87 degrees 44' North. By Solmund Freng, Olso. 130mm length. Portrait of Amundsen on handle, his name and walrus head below. The bowl depicts two aeroplanes flying above the North Pole with planted Norwegian flag; POLFLYVNINGEN 21 MAI-15 JUNI 1925 87-43-2-NB. Engraved on back "A.O. 12-10-1900 12-10-25" and hallmarked. In 1925, Amundsen and American Polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth set out for the North Pole. Their expedition in two Dornier Do J flying boats, the N-24 and the N-25, reached 87 degrees 44 North, the northernmost latitude reached by a plane up to that time. The N-24, though, was damaged on landing. For over three weeks, the expedition worked to clear an airstrip to take off from ice. Living on a meager 400 grams of food rations a day, the expedition members shoveled 600 tons of ice. Finally, the six-man expedition was packed into the N-25 and Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was miraculously able to pilot the plane up from the cracking ice and return the expedition to a triumphant reception.

Sold for
$120