Collection of Polar explorer who sailed with Scott to the Antarctic comes to auction

Davies was the Royal Naval carpenter and shipwright aboard the RYS Terra Nova and a member of many later Polar expeditions. His recollections of the ship, her crew and of the expedition have been recently published in a book With Scott Before The Mast.

The October 19 sale titled An Important Collection of British Antarctic ‘Terra Nova’ Expedition archive material of Francis Davies & Maritime Auction includes many of the photographs, letters and artefacts included within the book, which highlights the monumental task of organising and preparing for the British Antarctic Expedition.

Such was Davies’ talents at keeping the Terra Nova running that, despite his desires to stay with Scott and the Southern party, Lieutenant Harry Pennell insisted that Davies stay aboard in order to ensure that the vessel could continue to sail.

Below is our pick of five lots from the sale.

HMV Antarctic branch?

Estimated at £100-150 is this Herbert Ponting (1870-1935) limited edition print, 109/400, Dog Chris, Listening to the gramophone, Antarctica, 30 x 40cm, Ponting Collection label to verso (pictured above).

Ponting was the professional photographer on Sir Robert Falcon Scott’s British Antarctica Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-13. He captured some of the most enduring images of the crew and the environment of the Golden Age of Antarctic exploration.

View the catalogue entry for this Herbert Ponting photograph.

Course of action

Antarctic Ocean Sheet VIII and IV from Francis Davies Terra Nova expedition collection – estimate £3000-5000 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

Among the most historically important pieces Davies kept after the expedition are charts ‘Antarctic Ocean Sheet VIII and IV’. Each shows details plotting the course for the Terra Nova from 1910-13 with dates and annotations and detailing the voyages off South Victoria, McMurdo Sound, the Bay of Whales together with notes of the dates entering and leaving the pack ice.

Each is estimated at £3000-5000. Pictured here is sheet VIII.

Bid for the Francis Davies Terra Nova Antarctic Ocean Sheet on thesaleroom.com.

Crew lined up

Mounted photograph of the crew of RYS Terra Nova, British Antarctic Expedition 1910 from Francis Davies Terra Nova expedition collection – estimate £500-600 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

This mounted photograph of the crew of RYS Terra Nova, British Antarctic Expedition 1910, is inscribed Officers and Crew, Capt Scott's Antarctic Exped 1910' and 'W Hillsden photo, Lyttleton NZ 26/11/10.

Framed and glazed, 24 x 29cm, it is offered together with a letter to Mrs Davies from RA Weasly (Seaman's Mission, Lyttleton): 'Dear Mrs Davies, I promised as a parting gift to the men on the Terra Nova a photo of the departure from Lyttleton, to be sent to their friends at home…' The lot includes a copy of With Scott Before the Mast.

Estimate £500-600.

View the catalogue entry for the mounted photograph of the crew of RYS Terra Nova, British Antarctic Expedition 1910 on thesaleroom.com.

Bit old for an omelette

Two Penguin eggs collected as samples during the British Antarctic Expedition 1910 from Francis Davies Terra Nova expedition collection – estimate £200-300 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

Two Penguin eggs collected as samples during the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, average size 7cm, are estimated at £200-300.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com to bid for penguin eggs collected as samples during the British Antarctic Expedition.

Sheffield supplied

A silver-plated spoon for the RYS Terra Nova British Antarctic Expedition 1910 from Francis Davies Terra Nova expedition collection – estimate £400-600 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

A silver-plated spoon for the RYS Terra Nova British Antarctic Expedition 1910 by Walker & Hall, Sheffield, with expedition emblem to terminal, 18cm long, is estimated at £400-600.

A pewter lidded drum mustard pot from the expedition also by Walker & Hall is guided at £700-900.

Bid for the silver-plated spoon for the RYS Terra Nova British Antarctic Expedition 1910 via thesaleroom.com.