The Dogs on Deck.
£750 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books
Classic Ponting photograph from Captain Scott's Terra Nova expedition (1910-1913), showing the expedition dogs on board the Terra Nova. 'The Expedition had thirty dogs, which were berthed on deck. They were Eastern Siberians (not Eskimo, nor Samoyede) and were selected, bought and brought from their native land, safely to the Antarctic, by Mr. Cecil H. Meares, who was in charge of the dog teams, and instructed the members in driving them. The decks are completely covered with stores and material for building the Winter Quarters hut. Mr. Meares is seen in this view.' (Fine Art Society Catalogue). The Terra Nova expedition was supposed to be the high-water mark of the Golden Age of Antarctic exploration; led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, the expedition was to have been the first to reach the South Pole, marking the event with the planting of the Union Jack flag. However the more professionally equipped Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen got there first. Nevertheless Scott's expedition will always be the one best remembered on account of the tremendous courage and bravery shown by Scott and his companions, Wilson, Bowers, Oates, and Evans on their return from the Pole in appalling conditions - perhaps best exemplified by Lawrence 'Titus' Oates who walked from the tent into a blizzard whilst suffering from frostbite and gangrene, knowing that he was not going to survive the journey but hoping that his self-sacrifice might help the others survive. The photographs were or
- Binding: Hardcover
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