HENSON, MATTHEW A. Typed letter signed.
New York: 5 June 1929. Two pages on a bifolium written to "Mr. Straus," neatly typed with a three-word correction ("the Pole") in ink, signed boldly at the end "Matthew A. Henson." 8 x 5 1/2 inches (20.5 x 14 cm). Slight even toning to the paper, usual folds.

A superb account giving "a short history of our dash for the Pole." He writes "I went to the pole with Peary, not through favoritism, but because frozen feet forced all the others to turn back." He goes on to recount the harrowing journey in substantial detail, up to the planting of the flag. Though written over three decades after Peary and Henson's journey, this is the most desirable content that one could ask for in a Henson letter, and these are quite uncommon.

Matthew Alexander Henson was an exceptionally skilled African American explorer who was well versed in Arctic survival techniques which, along with Peary, he had learned from the Inuit peoples. Henson spoke Inuit fluently and could drive and train dog teams using the Native methods. Originally hired as Peary's valet, he accompanied him on seven expeditions, totaling some nineteen years. His accomplishments put him at the very pinnacle of Arctic explorers, all the more remarkable because of his disadvantaged childhood; his parents were sharecroppers, and he left school by age twelve.

C The Collection of Jay I. Kislak sold to benefit the Kislak Family Foundation

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