Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition Party Signed Photograph.

FUCHS, Vivian; Ralph Lenton; Ken Blaiklock; George Lowe; Alan Rogers; Geoff Pratt; David Pratt; et al.

$6,500.00

Item Number: 136055

Original black and white photograph of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition party signed by all twelve members of the team. One page, the photograph shows all twelve members of the team in front of a snowcat with the Union Flag. Signed on the lower margin, “V. Fuchs, Hal Lister, Ralph Lenton, Ken Blaiklock, George Lowe, Alan Rogers, Geoff Pratt, David Pratt, David Stratton, Jon Stephenson, Hannes la Grange and Roy Howard.” In near fine condition with creasing to the lower left margin. The photograph measures 11.75 inches by 9.75 inches. Accompanied by an original appeal program for the expedition, a flyer for an Illustrated Lecture by Vivian Fuchs and Edmund Hillary on Sunday, April 15th at 3:00 p.m., two souvenir pamphlets with the specifications and photographs of the Danish Polar vessel Magga Dan and Canadian sealer Theron used in the expedition, and a J. Lauritzen Lines promotional booklet “Special Vessels For Ice-Filled Waters.” The pamphlet collection is in fine condition.

The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) of 1955–1958 was a Commonwealth-sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica, via the South Pole. It was the first expedition to reach the South Pole overland for 46 years, preceded only by Amundsen's expedition and Scott's expedition in 1911 and 1912. In keeping with the tradition of polar expeditions of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, the CTAE was a private venture, though it was supported by the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Australia and South Africa, as well as many corporate and individual donations, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II. The expedition was headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs, with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading the New Zealand Ross Sea Support team. The New Zealand party included scientists participating in International Geophysical Year research while the British team were separately based at Halley Bay. Fuchs was knighted for his accomplishment. The second overland crossing of the continent did not occur until 1981, during the Transglobe Expedition led by Ranulph Fiennes.