ROALD ENGELBREGT GRAVNING AMUNDSEN (1872-1928)

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THE NORWEGIAN SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION, 1910-1912 Amundsen sailed from Norway on 9 August 1910, ostensibly for the North Pole. His plans had however changed as soon as Peary and Cook emerged from the Arctic in September 1909, each claiming to have reached the North Pole. Amundsen went to Copenhagen to see Cook and used the visit to negotiate the purchase of 100 huskies from Greenland through the Danish Government 'to be used in an attempt on the South Pole'. He ordered the dogs and returned to Christiania only to receive the news that Scott would lead a British attempt on the South Pole. Amundsen, worried about upsetting his sponsors and aware of Scott's proprietorial attitude to the South, was forced to conceal his plans and it was only when the Fram arrived at Madeira that he announced the change in the expedition's goal, to the unanimous approval of his men. A telegram was sent to Scott ('Beg leave to inform you proceeding Antarctic') and he wrote of the news to the King of Norway and Nansen. The Fram moored alongside the Ross Ice Shelf at the Bay of Whales on 14 January 1911, just a week after Scott had moored at McMurdo Sound. He prepared to overwinter at Framheim, a base set up on the Ice Shelf for his 8 companions and 116 dogs, and deposited supplies at latitudes 80°, 81° and 82° for the southern journey the following season. Amundsen left Framheim on 20 October 1911 with Helmer Hanssen, his dog trainer, Sverre Hassell, his sledge driver, Olav Bjaaland, a ski champion, and Oscar Wisting. a petty officer in the Norwegian navy, and twelve dogs for each of the three sledges. They made good progress, sledging 13 nautical miles a day and reaching the mountain range at 85°S on 17 November, leaving them the ascent of Axel Heilberg Glacier, riddled with glaciers, before the plateau. At the top of the glacier Amundsen kept just 6 dogs for each sledge, slaughtering the remainder for food, and pushed on, reaching the mythical 90° on 14 December. They spent three days at the Pole, checking their position carefully, left a letter for Scott and arrived back at Framheim, victorious, on 25 January 1912, after a return journey of just ninety-six days.

Details

ROALD ENGELBREGT GRAVNING AMUNDSEN (1872-1928)

Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1912. A packing case stencilled No 2 AMUNDSEN CHRISTIANIA POLAR EXPEDITION and FROM HORLICK'S MALTED MILK CO SLOUGH BERKS ENGLAND on the top and bottom, and stencilled HORLICK'S MALTED MILK TABLETS, and HORLICK'S MALTED MILK IN TABLET FORM around the sides, 11 x 15¼ x 5¾in. (27.9 x 38.7 x 14.6cm.)

Provenance

Roald Amundsen and thence by descent to the present owner.

Literature

R. Huntford, The Amundsen Photographs, New York, 1987, illustrated on the title page.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

'The 14th was cool - the temperature remained at -68.8°F. Fortunately it was clear, so that we could see where we were going. We had not gone far before a bright projection appeared on the level surface. Out with the glasses - the depot! There it lay, right in our course. Hanssen, who had driven first the whole way, without a forerunner, and for the most part without a compass, had no need to be ashamed of his performance. We agreed that it was well done, and that, no doubt, was all the thanks he got. We reached it at 10.15 a.m., and unloaded our sledges at once. Wisting undertook the far from pleasant task of getting us a cup of warm milk at -68.8°F. He put the Primus behind one of the cases of provisions, and set it going; strangely enough, the paraffin was still liquid in the vessel, but this was no doubt because it had been well protected in the case. A cup of Horlick's Malted Milk tasted better that day than the last time I had tried it - in a restaurant in Chicago.' (R.E.G.Amundsen, The South Pole, London, 1912, pp.386-87)

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