NANSEN FRIDTJOF: (1861-1930) Norwegian Arctic explorer and polymath, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1922. An excellent, large vintage signed and inscribed sepia 12 x 10 photograph, the image depicting Nansen seated in a full length profile pose at the desk in his study at Polhogda, the large house which was built to his design in Lysaker. Nansen is surrounded by various possessions including ornately carved chairs, several rows of bookshelves, a globe, marble bust, and with a typewriter and numerous papers on his desk. Signed in fountain pen ink to a clear area at the head of the image, 'Dr. Vaughan Harley, with the kind regards of Fridtjof Nansen'. The photograph (11 x 8.5) is neatly mounted to the original card mount with decorative printed borders. Signed photographs of Nansen of this size are scarce and desirable. Some very light, minor mottling to the image and a few light stains to the mount, otherwise VG Edward Vaughan Harley (1864-1923) British Professor of Pathological Chemistry at London University 1896-1919. Vaughan Harley had previously studied in Paris with Louis Pasteur and Pierre Paul Emile Roux.