1929 Photogravure Ellsworth Polar Expedition Oslo Norway King Ship Boat XGA2

This is an original 1929 black and white photogravure of the members of the 1925 Polar Expedition about to greet the king of Norway in Oslo. The caption writes, "'As I looked ahead at the great silent expectant mass of humanity that waited to greet us, I was overcome with emotion-- at that moment I felt paid in full for all that I had gone through.'" A PDF file describing the expedition, written by both Amundsen and Ellsworth, will be provided digitally to all buyers of the original photogravures.

This image is from Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth's 1925 flight from Spitzbergen, Norway (Norge) to 88¡ North. The expedition employed the use of two Dornier Do J flying boats, the N-24 and the N-25. The men reached 88¡ North a few miles apart without radio contact, and were able to reconnect and communicate with each other by use of semaphore. It took an entire hour to signal one plane's position to the other, and required two men-- one to signal, and the other to use a pair of binoculars to decipher the code. The N-24 was damaged, and leaking, and the forward motor had been disabled, so the men had to quickly move from the N-24 to the N-25 if they were to get back to civilization. This proved a difficult task, as the region was full of shifting ice. The men reached the N-25, and after rejoining their cohorts, pushed an estimated 300 tons of ice during twenty-five days in order to free the plane to return on their journey home. The men were eating less than a pound a day, and were using three wooden shovels, a two pound pocket safety-ax and an ice anchor to dislodge the plane. After an incredible feat, the N-25 lifted off carrying the six crew members, and reached civilization after their month long expedition.

Period Paper is pleased to offer a rare and fascinating collection of photogravures featuring the two polar flights of Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, and the American explorer, Lincoln Ellsworth. The collection offers images from the 1925 flight from Spitzbergen, Norway (Norge) to 88¡ North, as well as the first crossing of the Polar Sea on the airship Norge in 1926. These original historically-important photogravures are incredibly rare, as only a few editions exist in the world online, and they are from the second printing. These are the only images from the first printing available for individual purchase online, worldwide. The plate impression is deep and visible on all photogravures.

CONDITION

This 82+ year old Item is rated Fine. Light aging throughout. Light wrinkling. No natural defects. No surface rub. No tears. Light water staining.

• Product Type: Original Photogravure; Black / White
• Grade: Fine
• Dimensions: Approximately 12 x 9.25 inches; 30 x 23 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

Keywords specific to this image: explorers, exploration, research, science

XGA2C29