Lot 158

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Description:

A.W. Greely ALS to Female Mountain Climber Re: R.G.S. Fellowship

A 1p autograph letter signed by Adolphus W. Greely (1844-1935), former Arctic explorer, as “AW Greely” at lower right. Dated December 26, 1916, n.p. On cream watermarked stationery paper, probably once bifold but now a single sheet. Expected light paper folds, and a slightly deckled right edge. Isolated red ink ghost impressions near the top, else near fine. 5.125” x 6.5."

Greely wrote this letter to Annie Smith Peck (1850-1935), the famous female mountain climber, traveler, writer, and all-around adventurer who had scaled slopes in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, and California. A suffragette, Peck had obtained her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Greek and Classical Languages at the University of Michigan in 1878 and 1881 respectively. She was also a trained archaeologist.

Greely wrote in part:

"Find enclosed the letter desired [not included in this lot], which I hope may be useful in connection with your desire to be a Fellow of the R.G.S…"

Annie Smith Peck did indeed obtain a Fellowship at the Royal Geographical Society the following year, in 1917. She also became a member of the Society of Woman Geographers after 1928.

A.W. Greely had been appointed leader of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition in 1881. The 25 crew members of the "U.S.S. Proteus" were tasked with collecting scientific data and charting previously unknown regions in northwestern Greenland. Greely's expedition achieved a new “farthest north” record, yet the human cost was high; of the original crew, only six men survived when rescued three years later. Greely wrote "Three Years in the Arctic Service," which recounted some of the hardships encountered during the mission, in 1886. Also in 1886, Greely was awarded the Royal Geographic Society's Founder's Medal, "for having so considerably added to our knowledge of the shores of the Polar Sea and the interior of Grinnell Land."

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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May 4, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
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