'Terra Nova' Expedition 1910 letter from Lawrence Oates

Hammer

£2,300

'Terra Nova' Expedition 1910 letter from Lawrence Oates

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?Terra Nova? Expedition. A fascinating autographed letter (with accompanying envelope) from Lawrence Edward Oates (1880-1912), written to his mother in Colwyn Bay while on board the ?Terra Nova? awaiting final departure of the Expedition from Cardiff, on lined paper, 2 pages 8vo, on a bifolium, very fine. In the letter, Oates complains of an excess of visitors including ?The Mayor and his crowd came on board and I never saw such a mob they are Labour socialists we are booked for dinners, smoking concerts, music halls every night and people are running about with invitations?. Oates would later sacrifice himself on the return trek from the South Pole in March 1912, with the immortal words to Scott, "I am just going outside and may be some time." Ex David Flaat (Spink Shreves 29 Jan 2009, lot 1730)