Letter from Ernest Shackleton to Mr Gwatkin, [1909]

MLMSS 9988

fonds

[1909]

1006594

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922) was a polar explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic. At the time of writing the letter, he had recently returned from the first of these, known as the Nimrod Expedition, which reached a Farthest South latitude of 88° 23’ S, just 97 nautical miles from the South Pole.

Reference:
New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust. http://www.heritage-antarctica.org (accessed 22 September 2017)

Purchased from Christies, London, in 1991 by a U.S. collector, who subsequently offered it to Maggs Bros Ltd, London

Manuscript letter in ink on 4 sides of one folded sheet of writing paper, headed “Browfort House, Devizes, Sunday”, addressed to “Mr Gwatkin” and signed “Ernest Shackleton”. The letter is not otherwise dated, but the letter’s contents indicate an approximate date of December 1909.
In the letter, Shackleton apologises for declining an invitation from Mr Gwatkin, as he must attend an “urgent committee meeting at the R. Geographical Society’s rooms”. He mentions “this Peary v. Cook business”, a reference to Robert Peary’s claim to have reached the geographical North Pole, a claim disputed by British explorer Frederick Cook. He also refers to the impending announcement of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s new Antarctic expedition, noting that he is "in daily touch with him now".

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years