An Edwardian silver table-cigarette box of ‘Captain Scott/ P...

Hammer

£5,200

An Edwardian silver table-cigarette box of ‘Captain Scott/ Polar’ interest.’ The box of oblong form with slightly domed hinged cover enclosing a gilded and cedar-lined and adjustable compartmented interior, the cover top surface engraved with the official crest of a ‘Penguin on Glacier Standing’ within a garter, and the motto ‘Discovery Antarctic Expedition 1901’ A. B. ARMITAGE / IN REMBERANCE 1901-04,’ and further engraved with the facsimile signature of ‘Captain Falcon Scott,’ London Hallmarks for 1902, maker’s mark of John Evans, Engraved retailer’s name of Dobson Piccadilly, 20x11x7cm.

Condition: Even ware to the engraving consummate with age, currently oxidised but will polish bright white)

In a career spanning some fifty years at sea(chiefly with the P and O Shipping Company), Albert Borlase Armitage served under both Nansen and Captain. R.F Scott RN during the 'Heroic Age' of polar exploration. Between 1894 - 97 he served under Nansen on the Jackson Harmsworth Expedition to Franz Josef Land and in 1900, Lieut. A.B Armitage, RNR was appointed Second in Command and navigator under Scott for the National Antarctic or 'Discovery' Expedition,1901 - 04. Unlike Scott, Armitage had navigational experience in pack ice and knowledge of polar conditions.
Although he penetrated furthest into the Polar Plateau on a journey towards the Western Mountains, Armitage felt generally under-used on the expedition. He was not selected for the Southern Journey and it may have been that he received some of the blame for RRS Discovery being beset in McMurdo Sound, delaying her departure by a year and requiring a Relief expedition to free her.
It is well documented that Armitage was ''paid off'' following the breakup of the expedition and in 1905, a row ensued with Scott's publisher over his book, 'Two Years in the Antarctic', which was released before the official narrative; 'The Voyage of The Discovery'.
Subsequent to the expedition, Albert Armitage and R.F Scott met only once and it is quite possible that this engraved silver cigarette box was meant as both a peace offering and a parting gift. An identical box, also engraved with Scott's signature, was given to Ernest Shackleton, another expedition member out of sorts with his leader, which was sold by Christies on 17/09/99 for £35,600