A game in the form of a ceremonial played on the airship Norge as it crossed the North Pole, 11-13 May 1926

Details

AMUNDSEN-ELLSWORTH-NOBILE NORTH POLE EXPEDITION, 1926
A game in the form of a ceremonial played on the airship Norge as it crossed the North Pole, 11-13 May 1926
in blue beize and yellow silk fitted case by C.G.Hallberg, Crown Jewellers [Stockholm], containing 18 ribboned Swedish silver medallions (with one reserve), counters and dice, the upper lid of the case engraved on a silver plaque 'SPELET OM NORDPOLEN/TILL/HERRAR DELTAGARE/AMUNDSEN-ELLSWORTH-NOBILES/NORDPOLESEXPEDITION 1926/MA RESULTATEN AV DENNA POLAREXPEDITION/BLIVA LIKA STRALANDE SOM STJARNORNA/PA NORDPOLENS HIMMEL./STOCKHOLM DEN 7 APRIL 1926/ARNUTH GUSTAFSSON', the case 9 x 14 x 2in. (22.8 x 35.6 x 5.1cm.), within the maker's cream card box stamped 'C.G.HALLBERG/HOF JUVELARE' on the lid, with a typed list of instructions, annotated in ink, by Gustafsson, the game's inventor, envelope addressed to 'Lincoln Ellsworth Esq/At hand' marked 'To be opened at the North Pole!', a carbon copy, and an autograph letter dated Oslo, 12 April 1926 to 'Herr Kapten R. Amundsen/Nordpolen!', two medallions in envelopes marked 'To be fastened to Mr Ellsworth by R Amundsen' and 'To be fastened to Capt R Amundsen by Mr Ellsworth', two photographs of the game in its case, and spare blue and yellow ribbons for the medallions

Provenance

Anon. sale Christie's, 8 Feb. 1990, lot 295.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

The Norge, in an expedition funded by Ellsworth, led by Amundsen and in an airship commanded by Nobile, made the first successful trans-Polar flight from Spitzbergen to Alaska on 11-13 May 1926 in a non-stop flight of 70 hours and 40 minutes, having travelled 5,100 km. (3,180 miles). The present game appears to have been invented for the flight and played shortly after the national flags had been dropped on the Pole.

More from Exploration and Travel with The Polar Sale

View All