Roald Amundsen
various, ca. 1920-1924
Fantastic Archive of Polar Explorer Roald Amundsen, Including Four Signatures
Signed photograph

ROALD AMUNDSEN, Archive, 1920-1924. 8 pp. Some tears to photographs and map; typed captions are fragile and detached from photographs; great signatures in green ink.

This small archive of materials related to the remarkable career of polar explorer Roald Amundsen features three signed photographs of Amundsen, complete with typed International Newsreel captions, a signed photograph of polar explorer Otto Sverdrup (1854-1930), and a photograph of a dog sled team in action on an expedition led by American Arctic explorer Donald MacMillan (1874-1970). The archive also includes a printed 1922 map of the proposed route of Amundsen?s ship Maud to the North Pole, signed by Roald Amundsen, and two autograph letters signed by his brother Leon Amundsen (on Roald Amundsen stationery) from 1922 regarding publishing rights to information about the expedition.

Excerpts
Leon Amundsen, ALS, February 21, 1922, Christiana [Oslo], Norway:
?I find your proposal very interesting and would like very much to close the business with you. However on account of old contracts I can do nothing until the question is quite clear when I will return upon the matter without delay.?

Leon Amundsen, ALS, June 9, 1922, Christiana [Oslo], Norway:
?Just returned from London where I have discussed business with the ?Times? I am very sorry to tell you that they stick to the old contract and are quite unwilling to leave me the American Market, and if I would break the old contract they would go to a process?that is what I understood from our conversation. I regret very much to loose the business proposed by you but under the circumstances I see no opening for anything outside the old arrangement.?

[Captions:]
?Explorer Amundsen Safe in Port. / For more than 19 months the silences of polar seas have shrouded the vessel that bore Roald Amundsen away in his endeavor to reach the North Pole; now comes the news that Amundsen, discoverer of the South Pole has arrived safely at a Siberian port. 4-24-20?

?Amundsen Believed to Have Started Flight Across Pole / Photo is of Roald Amundsen, noted Norwegian explorer, who some months ago left for the frozen North on a proposed airplane flight across the North Pole. Amundsen?s expedition first went to Alaska, from where they were to proceed to the polar regions. The Norwegian government, under whose direction Amundsen is making the exploration trip, is said to be planning a relief party to follow after Amundsen and carry added supplies to the first party. However, definite knowledge of Amundsen?s actions is not known, as conflicting reports have come from Alaska to the effect that the advanced season of the year had compelled Amundsen to abandon his proposed flight this year. / 9-14-22?

?With MacMillan?s Expedition into the Arctic. / Remarkable photograph taken by Donald MacMillan Arctic Explorer on his most recent expedition into the northernmost icy regions. Photo shows one of the dog teams in action. L-10-24-24?

Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) was born in Norway and began his career as a polar explorer as a first mate on a Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899. From 1903 to 1906, he led the first expedition to traverse successfully the Northwest Passage on the sloop Gj?a. In 1910-1912, he led an expedition to the South Pole, his party of five being the first to reach that point in December 1911. From 1918 to 1922, he led an expedition aboard the ship Maud in an unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole. In 1924, he lectured in the United States to raise money for his continuing explorations. In May 1926, Amundsen and 15 others in the airship Norge became the first verified explorers to reach the North Pole. In June 1928, he disappeared while flying on a rescue mission for the airship Italia in the Arctic. Despite a search of several months, his remains were never found.

Leon Amundsen (1870-1934) was born in Norway and was the older brother of Roald Amundsen. He acted as expedition secretary and business manager for his brother for much of his life. After his brother?s Antarctic expedition, the two became estranged over financial matters, and Roald Amundsen did not mention his brother in his 1927 autobiography.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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