25th Apr, 2012 12:00

Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Anzac)

 
Lot 20
 

20

[M] [SHACKLETON'S IMPERIAL TRANS-ARCTIC...

[SHACKLETON'S IMPERIAL TRANS-ARCTIC ('ENDURANCE') EXPEDITION 1914-1917] A MAGIC LANTERN AND ARCHIVE OF MARITIME AND EXPLORATION SLIDES INCLUDING THIS EXPEDITION, FORMERLY OWNED AND USED BY CMDR. FRANK WORSLEY, R.N.
the mahogany and brass lantern by W. Watson & Sons, converted to electricity and contained in original fitted box with maker's labels and instructions pasted inside lid; together with nearly four-hundred 3¼ x 3¼in. glass slides in wooden storage boxes with manuscript indices, one inscribed inside lid COMMANDER WORSLEY RN / 6 GLEDSTANES Road LONDON W.14., the lantern -- 13¾ x 22½in. (35 x 56.5cm.) manuscript lecture notes on Shackleton, spare bulbs and paperback book of Shackleton interest.
(a lot)

Frank Arthur Worsley (1872-1943) a New Zealand-born sailor and explorer who formed part of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated attempt to cross the Antarctic continent. When their ship Endurance, captained by Worsley, was crushed by the ice, the crew were forced into small boats and reached the remote Elephant Island safely. With no prospect of rescue, Worsley was one of five men hand-picked by Shackleton to accompany him on the perilous open-boat voyage to South Georgia in the lifeboat christened the James Caird (named in honour of the Glasgow jute manufacturer who largely underwrote the expedition and which is now preserved in Dulwich College). At 800 nautical miles (920 miles) this voyage remains the second longest undertaken in such a vessel (the longest being Captain Bligh's 3,000 mile journey after the infamous mutiny) and that Worsley was chosen proves the extent of Shackleton's faith in him. Upon reaching Europe, Worsley captained a Q-Ship (disguised warship) and was one of the few to sink a U-Boat with this ruse. In 1921-2 he Captained the Quest for Shackleton's return voyage to South Georgia but Shackleton died and, at his wife's request, was buried there.
According to hearsay evidence, Worsley, a member of the Little Ship Club in the City of London, gave regular talks on Maritime themes and history, and his Arctic experiences in particular. No less than 86 of the slides here pertain to the region and include views of Endurance, icebergs, whaling, penguins etc. He died of lung cancer in 1943 and this set passed to Lt. Higley Halliday RN who gave it to the vendor in the early 1970s.

Sold for £9,300
Estimated at £1,000 - £1,500

(inc. buyer's premium of 24%)


 
[SHACKLETON'S IMPERIAL TRANS-ARCTIC ('ENDURANCE') EXPEDITION 1914-1917] A MAGIC LANTERN AND ARCHIVE OF MARITIME AND EXPLORATION SLIDES INCLUDING THIS EXPEDITION, FORMERLY OWNED AND USED BY CMDR. FRANK WORSLEY, R.N.
the mahogany and brass lantern by W. Watson & Sons, converted to electricity and contained in original fitted box with maker's labels and instructions pasted inside lid; together with nearly four-hundred 3¼ x 3¼in. glass slides in wooden storage boxes with manuscript indices, one inscribed inside lid COMMANDER WORSLEY RN / 6 GLEDSTANES Road LONDON W.14., the lantern -- 13¾ x 22½in. (35 x 56.5cm.) manuscript lecture notes on Shackleton, spare bulbs and paperback book of Shackleton interest.
(a lot)

Frank Arthur Worsley (1872-1943) a New Zealand-born sailor and explorer who formed part of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated attempt to cross the Antarctic continent. When their ship Endurance, captained by Worsley, was crushed by the ice, the crew were forced into small boats and reached the remote Elephant Island safely. With no prospect of rescue, Worsley was one of five men hand-picked by Shackleton to accompany him on the perilous open-boat voyage to South Georgia in the lifeboat christened the James Caird (named in honour of the Glasgow jute manufacturer who largely underwrote the expedition and which is now preserved in Dulwich College). At 800 nautical miles (920 miles) this voyage remains the second longest undertaken in such a vessel (the longest being Captain Bligh's 3,000 mile journey after the infamous mutiny) and that Worsley was chosen proves the extent of Shackleton's faith in him. Upon reaching Europe, Worsley captained a Q-Ship (disguised warship) and was one of the few to sink a U-Boat with this ruse. In 1921-2 he Captained the Quest for Shackleton's return voyage to South Georgia but Shackleton died and, at his wife's request, was buried there.
According to hearsay evidence, Worsley, a member of the Little Ship Club in the City of London, gave regular talks on Maritime themes and history, and his Arctic experiences in particular. No less than 86 of the slides here pertain to the region and include views of Endurance, icebergs, whaling, penguins etc. He died of lung cancer in 1943 and this set passed to Lt. Higley Halliday RN who gave it to the vendor in the early 1970s.
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