£5,000 - £7,000
BRITISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION, 1875-76, A RARE GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SLIDES
comprising 35 glass lantern slides produced by the London Stereoscopic Co. from photographs by George White and Thomas Mitchell, with manuscript numbering and maker's details -- 3½ x 3½in. (9 x 9cm.) square, contained in wooden box
The Nares expedition was commissioned by the Admiralty as a voyage of scientific discovery, the main aim being the conquest of the North Pole, H.M. Ships Alert and Discovery setting sail from Portsmouth on May 29th 1875. The expedition achieved a 'farthest north' record, but failed to reach the Pole, nevertheless, significant scientific data was gathered and a considerable portion of the north Greenland coast mapped. It was also significant for including photographers and George White, Assistant Engineer for Alert and Thomas Mitchell, Paymaster for Discovery were trained at the Army School of Photography in Chatham expressly for the purpose. Between them they took some of the earliest images of polar exploration and set a precedent in the field of photography followed by later professionals such as Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley.
most slides have clear glass lamination back plate detached to 3 slides, one or two copyright labels are loose.
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