Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs (1908-1999)
Details
Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs (1908-1999)
Letter signed to Dr Alexander Macklin, London, 9 November 1955, on paper with printed heading of 'The Trans-Antarctic Expedition', one page, 4to; together with a carbon copy of a letter to Fuchs by Macklin, n.p., 4 November 1955, one page, 4to.
PROVENANCE:
Alexander Hepburne Macklin (1889-1967), and thence by descent to the present owners.
Macklin writes to Fuchs wishing him luck in his Antarctic crossing, warning that the Weddell Sea pack ice will be 'a formidable enemy', and sending 'a useful little gadget: a pair of clip forceps and lengths of banjo wire. By breaking off a bit of the wire and clipping with the forceps you will have an almost unlimited number of Primus prickers'. Fuchs replies with thanks: 'we shall cetainly carry your gift with us because we shall use primus stoves and regard them as the most reliable piece of equipment', adding 'the power of modern ships should give us an advantage [in the Weddell Sea] over the 42 h.p. of the Endurance'.
Fuchs's Trans-Antarctic Expedition was the first to achieve a surface crossing of the continent in 1957-58, more than forty years after Shackleton's attempt.
Letter signed to Dr Alexander Macklin, London, 9 November 1955, on paper with printed heading of 'The Trans-Antarctic Expedition', one page, 4to; together with a carbon copy of a letter to Fuchs by Macklin, n.p., 4 November 1955, one page, 4to.
PROVENANCE:
Alexander Hepburne Macklin (1889-1967), and thence by descent to the present owners.
Macklin writes to Fuchs wishing him luck in his Antarctic crossing, warning that the Weddell Sea pack ice will be 'a formidable enemy', and sending 'a useful little gadget: a pair of clip forceps and lengths of banjo wire. By breaking off a bit of the wire and clipping with the forceps you will have an almost unlimited number of Primus prickers'. Fuchs replies with thanks: 'we shall cetainly carry your gift with us because we shall use primus stoves and regard them as the most reliable piece of equipment', adding 'the power of modern ships should give us an advantage [in the Weddell Sea] over the 42 h.p. of the Endurance'.
Fuchs's Trans-Antarctic Expedition was the first to achieve a surface crossing of the continent in 1957-58, more than forty years after Shackleton's attempt.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.