Lot 319

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Description:

Richard E. Byrd AMS and Signed Insulation Piece from Antarctic Mission

1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", Boston, Massachusetts, dated May 10, 1936. Signed "Richard E Byrd/Commander B.A.E.II." Addressed to an unknown recipient, on the anniversary of his return from the South Pole expedition. Reads in part:

"I want to express to you my deep and enduring appreciation of the assistance you rendered our second Antarctic Expedition which helped make it possible for us to serve more than twenty branches of science and map and take possession of thousands of square miles of new territory for the United States. Attached to this sheet is an autographical piece of insulation from the wall of the Advance Meteorological Base the southernmost habitation ever occupied by man." The piece of insulation is adhered to the top margin of the page and measures 2" x 1.25". Signed "RE Byrd". The letter has mat burn and is boldly signed. The insulation piece is creased in places and the signature is slightly worn.

Accompanied by a vintage print, measuring 8" x 10", [1929], of Byrd dressed in heavy furs. Taken in the library of Little America, prior to Byrd's South Pole flight. He is holding a stone from Floyd Bennett’s grave. Byrd dropped the stone, wrapped in the small American flag, from the plane when they were over the South Pole, in honor of his pilot of the North Pole expedition of 1926. Stamped on verso copyright B.A.E. Slightly warped, with curled edges.

Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) was a naval officer and explorer who claimed to be the first to reach the North and South Poles by air. His Second Antarctic Expedition took place from 1933-1935, and was significant for the seismic data collected, for being the first voices transmitted from Little America and broadcast on CBS radio, for the expedition's research into cosmic rays and meteors, and for the important research the team conducted on weather patterns. Byrd also used automotive power to pronounced effect--he was able to set up motor-driven generating plants so that Little America had electrical power. He returned to New York from this trip on May 10, 1935, one year before the writing of this letter. Byrd became very ill during the mission, suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after being exposed to a poorly ventilated stove and a fume-leaking power generator for many months. His team at the base camp became alarmed when Byrd began making unusual radio transmissions and he had to be evacuated, narrowly escaping death.

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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June 30, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
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