1919 ARCHIVE OF TWO [2] ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT NOTEBOOK AND DIARY OF ARCTIC EXPLORATION AND MARBLE MINING IN THE FAR NORTH OF NORWAY WITH THE THREAT OF BOLSHEVISM LOOMING BY THE MANAGER FOR

by HERBERT W. LEECH, Manager Mining Operations

$9,856 · Offered by Biblio

Signed

SPITZBERGEN GREEN HARBOUR NORWAY. Very Good. 1919. Manuscript. On offer is an exceptional archive of two [2] significant, historical handwritten note book and diary of Herbert W. Leech, Manager of the Marble Dept of The Northern Exploration Company (NEC) in 1919. It is very interesting reading of the troubles this operation had as the books entirely describe through letters, notations and diary entries all the work and grief his operations suffered. Herbert Leech, the Manager, reports in the letter copies to his superior Mr. W. Holmboe in Tromso, from the MINA I, Spitzbergen, Recherche Bay or Green and King s Harbors. It appears right from the start that Leech was in a sad way as he reports of the ship being unsatisfactory, breakdowns continual, delays everywhere and always problems with the staff or contractors [carpenters especially it seems] and he complained of near open mutiny with staff, some calling in sick for no reason, others barely maintaining a guise as it appears this summer venture was ill-advised or doomed for other reasons. He writes the details of his needs and progress during the expedition including the never ending problems with the ship and his men as well as requests for supplies and spare parts for the engine etc. There are letters telling of the men refusing to work after disagreements over contracts and the continued intoxication of the steward. There are some details of their geological discoveries and the conditions they had to endure. There is a li

• Year: 1919
• Binding: unknown

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