The five flags hoisted at 80° 20'26'N. on May 12th, 1876.

£3,250 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

The British Arctic Expedition 1875-76 was dispatched in H.M.S. Alert and Discovery under the command of Captain George Strong Nares, with the aim of reaching the North Pole. It did not succeed in this objective, though much important scientific data was gathered and a new furthest North record was set. This unusual lithographic broadside commemorates that achievement, and showcases the individual flags specific to each sledging team on the expedition, providing detailed information about each sledge party’s members, movements and ailments or fatalities. The table is surmounted with the five flags hoisted on May 12th 1876 at the new northernmost point of 83°20’26“. These comprise the motto flag and standard of Captain Albert H. Markham (the commander of the sledging party), the standard of Lieutenant A. A. Chase Parr, the flag of Captain Nares (not present for this part of the expedition), and the white ensign, bearing the Union Jack at the hoist of a St George’s Cross. The rest of the table gives the individual achievements of each sledging party, with the ailments suffered by crew members in italics beside their names. For example, Captain Markham’s sledge Marco Polo’s team included a “Jas. Self (A.B.), suffered amputation ” and a “W. Malley (A.B.), disabled by frostbite ”. These notes highlight not only the harsh reality of the physical toll which man-hauling sledges had on men in the high Arctic, but also underlines two of the major set backs of the expedition overall, spe

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.