EXPLORER

Harry de Windt [Captain Harry Willes Darell de Windt], explorer and travel writer.] Autograph Note Signed: a quotation with signature provided for an autograph hunter.

Author: 
Harry de Windt [Captain Harry Willes Darell de Windt (1856-1933)], explorer and travel writer, aide-de-camp to his brother-in-law Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak
de windt
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£50.00
de windt

See the entry for Sir Charles Brooke in the Oxford DNB. On one side of an 18 x 9 cm piece of paper, the upper part torn from a larger sheet, with neatly-torn bottom edge resulting in a little loss to the flourish beneath the signature and the tip of the downstroke of the ‘y’ in ‘Harry’. In fair condition, lightly aged, with a central vertical fold. The text, in a bold hand, reads: ‘ “Though obstacles beset you - struggle still!” / Even a worm may climb this highest hill! / Yrs Sly / Harry de Windt’ See Image.

[August Courtauld, Arctic explorer and yachtsman.] Autograph Signature from the end of a letter.

Author: 
August Courtauld [Augustine Courtauld] (1904-1959), British Arctic explorer and yachtsman, solo meteorologist of Icecap Station, Greenland
August Courtauld
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£65.00
August Courtauld

On 5 x 13.5 cm piece of paper, cut from the end of a letter and laid down on one side of part of a leaf from an album, the mount carrying a cropped cartoon on the other side. In good condition, lightly aged, with the mount a little ruckled. Simply reads: ‘Your sincerely / August Courtauld’. Captioned on mount: ‘August Courtauld - explorer’. The cartoon is intriguing.

[‘The Lion Hunter’: Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming, Scottish traveller and big game hunter.] Autograph Letter Signed, arranging for a portrait to be sent to the fencing master H. C. Angelo via a ‘pampered menial’.

Author: 
‘The Lion Hunter’: Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming (1820-1866), Scottish traveller and big game hunter, whose trophies were exhibited around Britain [Henry Charles Angelo, fencing master]
Publication details: 
'232 Piccadilly [London] / Septem 28. 56' [1856].
£180.00

At the time of writing Gordon-Cumming’s trophies were being exhibited at this Piccadilly address, having previously formed part of the Great Exhibition. The recipient Henry Charles Angelo (1806-1866) was a member of the celebrated family of fencing masters, and was at this time teaching the art at the Cavalry College, Richmond. 2pp, 12mo. On the rectos of the two leaves of a bifolium, with the recipient’s name written lengthwise on the verso of the first leaf: ‘H. C. Angelo Esqr’. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice.

[Johann Heinrich Barth; explorer; Africa] Signed Sentiment (presumably) in German, H. Barth. See Image for sentiment/text.

Author: 
Johann Heinrich Barth (1821 – 1865), German explorer of Africa and scholar.
Barth
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£65.00
Barth

Sentiment? and signature, in corner of shiny paper, 14 x 15.5cm, edges somewhat unevenly cut, good condition. I'd appreciate input from someone who can read the script to establish whether this was part of a letter or document.

[William Scoresby, Arctic Traveller] Autograph Signature with place and date, Willm Scoresby, || [Pollec?], Oct.2.1847.

Author: 
William Scoresby, Arctic Traveller.
Scoresby
Publication details: 
[Pollec?] Oct.2. 1847.
£50.00
Scoresby

Small piece of paper, 9 x 4.5cm, laid down on slightly larger piece of paper. See Image. Scoresby set sail Liverpool to America two days later (4th Oct. 1847).

[‘He walked across Africa’: Verney Lovett Cameron, the first European to cross equatorial Africa from coast to coast.] Autograph Signature to conclusion of a letter: ‘V. Lovett Cameron / Commander R. N.’

Author: 
Verney Lovett Cameron (1844-1894), explorer who ‘walked across Africa’, the first European to cross equatorial Africa from Indian Ocean to Atlantic
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£76.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. A good large bold signature, with the autograph valediction of a letter. On one side of a 20 x 9 cm piece of wove paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: ‘Your’s [sic] very truly / V. Lovett Cameron / Commander R. N.’ See Image.

[Rosita Forbes] Bold Signature only: Rosita Forbes.

Author: 
Rosita Forbes [(1890 – 1967), travel writer, novelist and explorer].
Rosita
Publication details: 
No place or date
£30.00
Rosita

Piece of paper, 6.5 x 2.5cm, very good condition. Signature only, with no evidence of being a part of a letter. See image.

[F.C. Selous, explorer] Bold Autograph Signature ('F. C. Selous') on fragment of letter, with some surviving text.

Author: 
Frederick Courteney Selous (1851-1917), British explorer of Africa, the inspiration for Rider Haggard's 'Allan Quartermain'
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£56.00

Piece of paper, 11 x 3.5cm, good condition. Surviving text as follows: ever you wish. Hoping that your readers will find it interesting. Believe me yrs very truly | F.C. Selous||

[Freya Stark; explorer] Signature and Date Only.

Author: 
Freya Stark [Dame Freya Madeline Stark (1893 – 1993), Anglo-Italian explorer and travel writer.]
Publication details: 
5 May 1949.
£30.00

Piece of paper, 20 x 2cm, edges unevenly clipped but signature and date complete (at either end of the paper), good condition. Text: Freya Stark May 5th 1949.

[ Julius Beerbohm, traveller and poet, half-brother of Max Beerbohm ] Manuscript Poem Signed J Beerbohm (calligraphically). See image.

Author: 
Julius Beerbohm [ Julius Beerbohm (1854 – 1906), Victorian travel-writer, engineer, explorer and poet.]
beerbohm
Publication details: 
No place, but dated by him 9 Sept. 90.
£220.00
beerbohm

32 line poem, cr.8vo, in a frame of an album page (detached), 4to, one ragged edge, celebrating summer, commencing: Is it not well, when the long day is over, | That brimmed with fulness of the summer time-| - Joy of wild bees that roam the the scented clover; [....] See image for full text. Verso: Sentiment by obscure German.

[ Hubert Wilkins, Australian Polar Explorer ] Newspaper Article by Wilkins, AND signed by him, entitled North Pole Submarine for London

Author: 
Hubert Wilkins [ Sir George Hubert Wilkins (1888–1958), Australian polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, soldier, geographer and photographer. ]
Publication details: 
Unknown Newspaper [1930 or 1931]
£180.00

Substantial Article extracted from a newspaper, 38 x 29cm, good condition, in which Wilkins discusses his project of taking a submarine (the Nautilus of course) under the Arctic. His signature Hubert Wilkins appears top left, probably in pencil.

[ Alexander Keith Johnston; mapmaker/explorer; Livingstone ] Autograph Note Signed Keith Johnston to Messrs. Hindley & Sons expecting a delivery of specimen map cases.

Author: 
Keith Johnston [ Alexander Keith Johnston (1844–1879), Scottish explorer, cartographer and geographer.]
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Royal Geographical Society, 1 Savile Row, Burlington Gardens, W., 15 May 1873.
£320.00

One page, 12mo, foxed and stained but text clear and complete, laid down in slightly larger piece of a paper on the base of which the biography of his father, a distinguished cartographer, is summarised. He says, I shall be glad to have the specimen map cases ordered on 22nd as soon as these can be got ready/ | [Signed] Keith Johnston | Ass[istan]t Curator [RGS]. A.K. Johnston the Younger was presumably preparing for his journey to Paraguay where he from 1873 to 1875 was geographer to a commission for the survey of Paraguay.

[Sir Clements Markham, explorer in Peru, Secretary to the Royal Geographical Society.] Autograph Signature ('Clements Markham') on part of letter.

Author: 
Sir Clements Markham [Sir Clements Robert Markham] (1830-1916), geographer, explorer in Peru and writer, Secretary to Royal Geographical Society, organiser of British National Antarctic Expediition
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£23.00

On 3.5 x 9.5 cm slip of paper cut from letter. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. On one side, from the conclusion of the letter: 'Yours very truly | Clements Markham'. On the other: '[...] have failed me: so no[...] | [...] you mind my putting [...]'.

[Winifred Brown [Winifred Sawley Brown, later Adams], aviatrix, the first woman to win the King's Cup Air Race.] Autograph Signature ('Winifred Brown.') with short inscription.

Author: 
Winifred Brown [Winifred Sawley Brown, later Adams] (1899-1984), aviatrix, explorer, sportswoman, yachtswoman, in 1930 the first woman to win the King's Cup Air Race
Publication details: 
21 October 1931. No place.
£23.00

On one side of 8.5 x 11 cm piece of grey card, with rounded corners. In good condition, lightly aged. Neatly and simply written out (in response to a request for an autograph), reading: 'Best Wishes | Sincerely | Winifred Brown.' Date by Brown at bottom left. Endorsed in pencil at head: 'First woman to win King's Cup Air Race | 1930'.

[Sir John Mills, Oscar-winning actor.] Typed Letter Signed ('John Mills') to Mrs Richard Eyre, daughter of Charles Royds, First Lieutenant to Scott of the Antarctic, regarding research on the film, in which Mills starred as Scott.

Author: 
Sir John Mills [born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills] (1908-2005), Oscar-winning English film actor [Richard Eyre; Scott of the Antarctic]
Publication details: 
24 November 1947; Fernacres, Fulmer, Bucks.
£120.00

2pp, 12mo. On grey paper with letterhead of his name. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight staining tape staining to two corners from mount. Addressed to 'Mrs Richard Eyre, | Bullsmead, | Maiden Newton, | Dorset.' The subject of the letter is the preparation for the 1948 British film 'Scott of the Antarctic', in which Mills starred in the title role. The recipient is the mother of the noted English director Sir Richard Eyre (b. 1943), whose father Charles Royds was Scott’s First Lieutenant.

[Sir Vivian Fuchs, Antarctic explorer.] Autograph Signature ('V. E. Fuchs | 1968') to illustration of the R. R. S. Shackleton, with anonymous typed note explaining why the picture was signed.

Author: 
Sir Vivian Fuchs [Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs] (1908-1999),Antarctic explorer who in 1958 led the first expedition to cross Antarctica
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£45.00

8 x 12 cm illustration of a ship in polar waters, cut from book or periodical, with bold signature at bottom right: 'V. E. Fuchs | 1968'. Laid down on piece of white paper. In fair condition, but with slight bleeding of ink from signature towards foot of paper. Accompanying the item is an unsigned typed note by the recipient of the autograph, on a 4to piece of paper. It reads: 'Antarctic Crossing | The autograph of Sir Vivian Fuchs | The first crossing of the Antarctic continent was completed at 1.47 p.m. on 2 March 1958, after a 2,158 mile trek lasting 99 days from 24th Nov.

[Vice-Admiral Sir George Strong Nares, Arctic explorer and commander of first ship to pass through the Suez Canal.] Autograph Note Signed ('G. S. Nares.') regarding his 'delicate instrument for Alert or Discovery'.

Author: 
Sir George Strong Nares (1831-1915), Royal Navy Vice-Admiral, commander of first ship to pass through the Suez Canal, Arctic Explorer with Challenger Expedition and British Arctic Expedittion
Publication details: 
No date or place [1875?].
£250.00

See Nares' entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. Clearly and boldly written, reading: 'Please give the bearer my delicate instrument for Alert or Discovery | G. S. Nares.' (Wikipedia) "Because of his previous experience in the Arctic, he was summoned from this assignment to take charge of another Arctic voyage in search of the North Pole in Discovery and Alert in 1875, the British Arctic Expedition."

[Charles Waterton, naturalist.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to Lady Cullum, regarding: his approach to natural history, shipwreck, indisposition, temperance campaigner Father Mathew in Wakefield, lions and lion cubs, 'little roman owls'.

Author: 
Charles Waterton (1782-1865), naturalist and explorer [Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), wife of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855), 8th Baronet of Hardwick House]
Publication details: 
12 July 1842; 17 July 1843; 17 April 1853. All three addressed from Walton Hall [Wakefield, Yorkshire].
£1,200.00

Three excellent and characteristic long letters, neatly and closely written, in the first of which he describes 'the little tide of misfortune' which has befallen him, including shipwreck and indisposition; in the second he gives a vivid account of a visit to Wakefield by the temperance campaigner Father Mathew; and in the last he explains is reluctance to dissect the body of a bird she has sent him, exclaiming: 'I never do things by halves in Natural History'. Along the way there are references to 'my little roman owls' and 'my lions and my lion cubs'.

[Verney Lovett Cameron, African explorer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('V. Lovett Cameron'), with initialled postscript ('V. L. C.') to 'Mrs. Marshall', regarding difficulties in setting up a tennis club in Croydon.

Author: 
Verney Lovett Cameron (1844-1894), African explorer, the first European to cross equatorial Africa from sea to sea [Croydon; lawn tennis]
Publication details: 
9 December 1887. Kwinhata, Espom Road, Croydon.
£250.00

See Cameron's entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Having traversed the African continent from East to West in 1875 (the first European to do so), Cameron now turns his attention to the establishment of tennis club in Croydon. He has received a letter 'from Mr. Jaques about the tennis ground. The fencing is nearly finished and he seems in a hurry'. There is a problem however: lack of members.

[Arnold Henry Savage Landor, painter, explorer, writer, etc.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A H Savage Landor') to Stephen Wheeler, ed. of the poems of Walter Savage Landor.re 'the papers which are to be disposed of at the Browning's Sale'.

Author: 
Arnold Henry Savage Landor (1865-1924), painter, explorer, writer, and anthropologist, grandson of the poet Walter Savage Landor
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Savoy Hotel, London. 29 April 1913.
£75.00

2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. In envelope with stamps and postmarks, addressed by Landor to 'Stephen Wheeler Esq | Oriental Club | Hanover Square | W.' He begins by acknowledging his letter, adding: 'I am quite of your opinion regarding the papers which are to be disposed of at the Browning's [sic] Sale'. Landor will 'try to get some of the autographs', but suspects that they 'may go too high'. He would have great pleasure in seeing Wheeler should he be 'in this neighbourhood', and gives details of when he will be at home.

[Sir Frederick Lugard [Lord Lugard], Governor of Hong Kong and first Governor-General of Nigeria.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to colonial civil servant Simon Nicholson, and one to Nicholson's wife Molly.

Author: 
Sir Frederick Lugard [Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard; Lord Lugard] (1858-1945), soldier, explorer, Governor of Hong Kong, first Governor-General of Nigeria [Simon Nicholson]
Publication details: 
The first of the four letters on letterhead of Little Parkhurst, Abinger Common, Nr Dorking, Surrey; the other three without place. One from 1940, two from 1941, one from 1943.
£220.00

The recipient Simon Nicholson was a colonial civil servant and a neighbour of Lugard at Tallboys in Abinger Hammer. He and his wife Molly were a cultured couple, and were friends of Edith Wharton and Bernard Berenson. The four letters are in good condition, lightly aged and worn, and each is 2pp, 12mo. Each folded once. The first three are signed 'Lugard' and the last, to Molly Nicholson, 'Fred Lugard'. In the first letter (23 September 1940), after expressing pleasure at seeing Nicholson again and having 'a talk', he begs him 'not to postpone your week-end here.

[Arnold Henry Savage Landor, painter, explorer, writer and anthropologist, grandson of the poet Walter Savage Landor.] Autograph Note Signed ('A H Savage Landor') to 'Capt How', making arrangements for a meeting.

Author: 
Arnold Henry Savage Landor (1865-1924), painter, explorer, writer, and anthropologist, grandson of the poet Walter Savage Landor
Publication details: 
St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster. No date.
£45.00

1p, 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, lightly creased and worn. Folded once. Reads: 'Dear Capt [How?], | I am expecting you to morrow Thursday at Princes Restaurant 1.30 pm | Yrs vy sincerely | A H Savage Landor.' Endorsed in pencil on reverse: 'author of IN THE FORBIDDEN LAND. | EXPLORER TO TIBET. | IMPRISONED | TORTURED | DECEASED'.

[ Henry M. Stanley ] Autograph Signature with additional "job title", "Henry M. Stanley | Special Commissioner | in Africa of the | 'New York Herald'". possibly subscription to a letter.

Author: 
Henry M. Stanley. Welsh journalist and explorer
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£380.00

Paper, 13 x 6cm, upper edge sl ragged from detachment from larger page, good condition.

[Sir Samuel White, explorer, discoverer of Lake Albert.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Sam W Baker') to 'Mr. Warner' (headmaster of Newton College, Devon), on an attack of gout and his decision to 'resign the Presidentship' (of the College governors).

Author: 
Sir Samuel Baker [Sir Samuel White Baker] (1821-1893), explorer, big game hunter, Ottoman Empire Pasha, Governor-General of Equatorial Nile Basin, discoverer of Lake Albert [Newton College, Devon]
Publication details: 
Sandford Orleigh, Newton Abbot [Devon]. 13 July 1891.
£220.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with minor damage at head. Folded once. He begins by requesting with 'much respect' to be excused 'on your great day', and explains: 'I write this from my bed, where I am confined with that delectable complaint the gout, and the moment I can move I must be off somewhere, either to Bath, or Buxton, to go through a regular course -'. He complains: 'This country does not agree with one -; we arrived in England 1 May, and I have already had three attacks of gout. I was seven months absent and was entirely free from it.

[Frederick Courteney Selous, explorer and hunter, inspiration for Rider Haggard's 'Allan Quatermain'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. C. Selous', giving permission to quote from his book, 'Travel and Adventure in South East Africa'.

Author: 
F. C. Selous [Frederick Courteney Selous] (1851-1917), explorer, big game hunter in Africa, inspiration for Rider Haggard's 'Allan Quatermain', friend of Theodore Roosevelt and Cecil Rhodes
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Heatherside, Worpledon, Surrey. 11 June 1902.
£220.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. He begins by informing the unnamed recipient that the reason for the delay in answering his letter is that Selous has 'just returned to this country from a trip to Hungary'. For his part, Selous will be 'very pleased if you will quote anything you like from my book, “Travel and Adventure in S. E. Africa”. He presumes that 'the publishers, to whom the book I suppose really belongs, will have no objection either, as to quote any passage from a book is to call attention to the book itself, which may result in the sale of a copy'.

[Karl Johan Andersson [Charles John Andersson], Swedish explorer in Africa.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Chs. J. Andersson'), in English, suggesting that his London publisher 'Mr. Blackett' advertise that the Swedish king has given him a medal.

Author: 
Karl Johan Andersson [Charles John Andersson] (1827-1867), Swedish explorer in Africa, hunter, ornithologist, travel writer [Henry Blackett (1825-1871), London publisher (Hurst & Blackett)]
Publication details: 
14 Cecil Street, Strand [London]. 26 June 1856.
£250.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with fold lines. Annotated up one margin: 'Writer of Travels &c'. Andersson writes: 'Dear Mr. Blackett, - | I enclose a literal translation of a paragraph extracted from one of the best Swedish newspapers, by which you will see that the King has honoured me with a medal. If you think that this paragraph may be of any use to you when advertising the 2d. Edition of “Lake Ngami”, it is quite at your service. Of course you may put it any [sic] language you may think proper. | Yours faithfully | Chs. J.

[ Richard F. Burton; Arabian Nights Edition de luxe; Grolier Society ] PROSPECTUS [to Arabian Nights Entertainments/ The Book of the Thousand Nights anda Night] With enclosures

Author: 
[ Richard F. Burton; Arabian Nights Edition de luxe; Subscription Edition ]
Publication details: 
[ From enclosed printed letter] The Grolier Society, 50 Great Russell Street, London, WC, 1902.
£200.00

Prospectus, [24]pp., cr. 8vo, decorative coloured wraps, arabic style, some gilt, rusted at staples, "Printed for Subscribers Only". [1] Hf-title; [2] Swinburne poem to Burton; [3] titlepage; [4-19] description of the book and various aspects; [[20-2]] Specimen pages; [23] Previous publication by Grolier (=Charles Lever); [24] blank. Two plates (ilustrations) loosely inserted. Other enclosures are: A Substantial printed letter signed G.

[John Walter Gregory, geologist and explorer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J W Gregory') to 'Mrs. Green', explaining that he cannot accept her invitation as he must go to 'the Red Lion dinner'.

Author: 
J. W. Gregory [John Walter Gregory] (1864-1932), English geologist and explorer in Australia and elsewhere, who gives his name to the Gregory Rift in the Great Rift Valley
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Association, Oxford. 14 August 1894.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He cannot accept her dinner invitation as he has 'promised to go to the Red Lion dinner & as the friend who got me the invitation there had I fear some trouble to do so, I do not like to withdraw'.

[Admiral Sir George Back, explorer of the Canadian Arctic.; his Arctic Mission; Ross] Autograph Letter Signed ('G Back') to 'Captain Maconochie' [Alexander Maconochie], regarding packing for a journey.

Author: 
Admiral Sir George Back (1796-1878), explorer of the Canadian Arctic, naturalist and artist [Alexander Maconochie (1787-1860), Scottish naval officer, Governor of Norfolk Island, penal reformer]
Publication details: 
8 February 1833. No place.
£280.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Addressed on blank reverse of second leaf to 'Captain Maconochie'. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'My dear Maconochie | I have not yet done packing - Have they sent the Books &c from the Ad[miralt]y.?' He next refers to 'the Almanack for 34', and his plans for the following day's 'Journey' [to Arctic - see NOte below]. From 1830 Maconochie was the first secretary of the Royal Geographical Society. In 1833 he became the first professor of Geography at the University College London.

[Sir William Edward Parry, Arctic explorer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W E Parry.') to unnamed recipient, soliciting a vote in a charity election for a 'poor girl' named Maria Jones.

Author: 
Sir William Edward Parry (1790-1855), Royal Navy Rear Admiral, celebrated Arctic explorer who made attempts on the Northwest Passage and North Pole
Publication details: 
Admiralty [London], 12 August 1828.
£100.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with small spot of discoloration. He explains that he is 'requested by a particular friend' to solicit the interest of the recipient 'in favor of the poor girl mentioned in the accompanying note, who was an unsuccessful Candidate at the last Election'. He knows that 'the applications in such cases are extremely numerous', but hopes that the recipient 'can give Maria Jones your vote on the ensuing occasion'.

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