Travel
[ANTARCTIC CLUB]
Penola dinner [menu] presented by Cdr. F.A. Worsley, D.S.O.. R.N.R. Cafe Royal, Regent Street, London, W.1.
Sunday 9th October, 1937. Small 8vo., (17.5 x 11 cms), [4] pp. 12 signatures in ink and pencil inside, printed white card with the stamp of the "Antarctic Club" in silver on the front, inserted loose inside small postcard of the "Discovery II" with ink inscription along bottom which reads "Best wishes from Discovery homeward bound from 1929-1931 Expedition with Sir Douglas Mawson , South Atlantic".
The Antarctic Club was established in 1929 as a dining club with an annual renuion for Antarctic Explorers. The six course menu on this occasion included "Saumon Fumé", "Filet de sole Royal" , "Selle d'Agneau Favorite" and "Poularde á la Brioche". Capt A.B. Armitage (Past President) also attended the dinner and propsed the "guests". The "Penola" was a three masted schooner ship used to transport the members of the British Graham Land Expedition (1934-37) from England to Antarctica. The expedition was led by John Rymill and had 16 members.The purpose of this primarily scientific expedition was to survey the west coast of Graham Land and to extend knowledge of the whole region as well as exploring the passage through the Stefansson Strait to the Weddell sea. The expedition not only proved that Graham Land was a peninsula ( not a collection of Islands as previously thought) but also successfully carried out many scientific experiments. Rymill eventually published his account in the work "Southern Lights" in 1938. This menu has been signed by at least three of the members, Wilfrid.Edward Hampton (second in command and pilot), Edward.W. Bingham ( Expedition doctor) and J. Martin ( mate on the "Penola"). Other signatures include Cherry Apsley Garrard, Thomas G. Longstaff ( member of the Everest 1922 expedition) and Stuart Campbell ( pilot on Discovery II) and John J. Miller ( another member of the Discovery II expedition). The postcard inserted loose inside has no signature but the writing appears very similar to John J. Miller who was a member of the Discovery II expedition in 1930-31 led by Sir Douglas Mawson. Howego 1850-1940 R20, S42.
Price: £ 650
US Dollar Price: $ 1290
Stock Number: 71958