Autograph Letter Signed, on illustrated ÒDiscovery Antarctic Expedition 1901Ó stationery, three pages 8vo, [Lyttelton, December 21, 1901.
SCOTT, ROBERT FALCON (1868-1912). British Royal Naval officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901Ð04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910Ð13. During this second venture Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, to find that they had been preceded by Roald Amundsen's Norwegian party in an unsought "race for the Pole". On their return journey Scott and his four comrades all perished, due to a combination of exhaustion, hunger and extreme cold.
ÒI regret I have only first been able to ascertain the number of officers that will be able to accept Mr. Wayworth the kind invitation for the proposed drive tomorrow afternoon. I hope that six will be able to get away. Will you please inform the chairman that all who can manage it will be delighted to come and add my apologies for this very late reply. Signed, ÒYours faithfully, R.F. Scott.Ó Included is a rare illustrated printed card inviting members to the port of Lyttelton for the Departure of the ship, Discovery.Ó (Item ID: 1493)
$1,850.00
The British National Antarctic Expedition, as it was officially known until its association with the ship, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the Royal Society. The Royal Society wanted to put a scientist in charge of the expedition's program while Scott commanded the ship. He was promoted to the naval rank of Commander before Discovery sailed for the Antarctic on 31 July 1901. Despite an almost total lack of Antarctic or Arctic experience, there was very little special training in equipment or techniques before the ship set sail.
