“Lieut Shackleton in Antarctic Regions”.
Penzance: [ca. 1909].
Price: $1,250.00
About the item
Vintage photograph on card mount, embossed photographer’s stamp on mount (“Preston/Penzance”). Photo 10-3/8 x 13-3/8 in. Fine.
Item #265421
This large vintage photograph showing a horse-drawn parade float model of Shackleton's Nimrod with the ship’s name and “Lieut Shackleton in Antarctic Regions” painted on the side. Manning the float are 6 young men and a small boy, all in cold weather gear.
It's a wonderful demonstration of the interest in polar exploration during the Heroic Age. Many of the expeditions enjoyed send off and welcome parades and this is almost certainly a relic from one of these for the Nimrod expedition, 1907-09. The largest of all parades for the Nimrod was actually held in Lyttleton, New Zealand, where as many as 50,000 people turned out for the send off. Indeed, the photographer here, Preston was based in Penzance. The image was almost certainly taken by him or his son, Richard.
The Nimrod Expedition 1907-9 was Shackleton’s first Antarctic expedition as leader — he had previously sailed under Scott on the Discovery Expedition. Shackelton was attempting to be the first to reach the South Pole. Though he failed at this, the expedition was notable for reaching the farthest South point, just over 100 miles from the pole, and for the ascent of Mount Erebus. Shackleton returned to England a hero and was subsequently knighted by Edward VII.
