Artifacts from Shackleton’s Antarctica expeditions sold at auction

Lilit Marcus
By Lilit Marcus, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 5:02 AM EDT, Thu May 26, 2022
<strong>Antarctic artifacts: </strong>Sotheby's in London recently held an auction of items from Antarctic explorations, including this bronze medal given to Ernest Shackleton. Click through to see more objects.
Antarctic artifacts: Sotheby's in London recently held an auction of items from Antarctic explorations, including this bronze medal given to Ernest Shackleton. Click through to see more objects.
Sothebys
<strong>The South Polar Times: </strong>Shackleton and his crew kept logs of stories about their expeditions, which they later turned into a three-volume book. This one was inscribed by Captain Robert Falcon Scott to his mother.
The South Polar Times: Shackleton and his crew kept logs of stories about their expeditions, which they later turned into a three-volume book. This one was inscribed by Captain Robert Falcon Scott to his mother.
Sothebys
<strong>Aurora Australis:</strong> Explorers Frank Wild and Ernest Joyce printed and bound 100 copies of this, the first book ever published on Antarctica.
Aurora Australis: Explorers Frank Wild and Ernest Joyce printed and bound 100 copies of this, the first book ever published on Antarctica.
Sothebys
<strong>A team effort: </strong>Including the title page, there are 11 etched or lithographed illustrations by George Marston. Binding was done by Bernard Day. It was made in 1908.
A team effort: Including the title page, there are 11 etched or lithographed illustrations by George Marston. Binding was done by Bernard Day. It was made in 1908.
Sothebys
<strong>Publishing conditions: </strong>The book was challenging to produce. Due to the cold, Wild and Joyce had to keep a lit candle constantly moving underneath the page so the ink wouldn't freeze.
Publishing conditions: The book was challenging to produce. Due to the cold, Wild and Joyce had to keep a lit candle constantly moving underneath the page so the ink wouldn't freeze.
Sothebys
<strong>Material goods:</strong> The book wasn't printed on paper. Instead, they used wood from the packing crates and leather binding from horse harnesses.
Material goods: The book wasn't printed on paper. Instead, they used wood from the packing crates and leather binding from horse harnesses.
Sothebys
<strong>Tracing its path: </strong>This book is inscribed by Frank Wild's brother Laurence to his grandson Nicholas on his 21st birthday in December 1970: "To keep in memory of his Great-uncle Frank Wild, who made this book in the Antarctic..."
Tracing its path: This book is inscribed by Frank Wild's brother Laurence to his grandson Nicholas on his 21st birthday in December 1970: "To keep in memory of his Great-uncle Frank Wild, who made this book in the Antarctic..."
Sothebys
<strong>Bonus points:</strong> The book also includes a hand-drawn map of the continent by Shackleton.
Bonus points: The book also includes a hand-drawn map of the continent by Shackleton.
Sothebys
<strong>Going, going, gone:</strong> The volume sold for £100,800 ($127,000).
Going, going, gone: The volume sold for £100,800 ($127,000).
Sothebys
<strong>Where in the world:</strong> Inside the volume are these coordinates: Latitude 77°.. 32' South Longitude 166°.. 12' East.
Where in the world: Inside the volume are these coordinates: Latitude 77°.. 32' South Longitude 166°.. 12' East.
Sothebys
<strong>Say hello: </strong>Also included in the auction was a photograph of Shackleton and his dog on board the HMS Endurance.
Say hello: Also included in the auction was a photograph of Shackleton and his dog on board the HMS Endurance.
Sothebys
<strong>Capture the flag: </strong>Shackleton isn't the only world-renowned Arctic explorer represented in the auction. This Norwegian flag belonged to Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole.
Capture the flag: Shackleton isn't the only world-renowned Arctic explorer represented in the auction. This Norwegian flag belonged to Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole.
Sothebys
Sotheby's ernest shackleton auction
CNN  — 

A collection of treasures from Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctica voyage has been sold at auction in London this week.

The timing couldn’t be better, as the wreck of his ship HMS Endurance was finally located in the Weddell Sea earlier this year, 107 years after it sank.

The highest priced item (£176,400, or $220,000) was a map of Antarctica Shackleton drew by hand detailing what he learned from his 1914-1916 expedition.

Shackleton, who was born in Ireland but lived most of his life in England, had a longtime fascination with Antarctica and visited the world’s southernmost continent four times.

“We were thrilled to offer this unique hand drawn map of Antarctica, created by one of the greatest polar explorers,” Richard Fattorini, Senior Specialist, Books & Topographical Photographs at Sotheby’s, said in a statement.

He added: “Shackleton’s outstanding leadership and exploits continue to fascinate and inspire people of all ages today.”

Taffrail and ship's wheel, aft well deck
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Famous explorer's ship found 107 years after it sunk
01:03 - Source: CNN

Other lots in the auction, which ended on May 25, included a bronze medallion that was awarded to Shackleton by the Chilean Historical and Geographical Society and a photograph of Shackleton and his dog on board the Endurance.

Arguably the most interesting piece was one of the first books ever printed and bound on Antarctica, which was produced by explorers Ernest Joyce and Frank Wild (both of whom had gotten training as printers in the UK) and edited by Shackleton.

The