Their tragic ordeal was immortalized in Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s The Worst Journey in the World (ranked our #1 favorite adventure book of all time): In 1911 three Brits slogged 130 miles across Antarctica’s Ross Island in the pitch-black, blow-high-hell dead of the polar winter. And all for the unlikely prize of three emperor penguin eggs.
And now the story—this time from expedition leader Edward A. Wilson’s original 40-page handwritten journal with illustrations—can be yours for a mere £100,000. Bonhams in London will auction the forgotten treasure in mid-September.
Long before March of the Penguins, at the height of Edwardian polar exploration in the early 1900s, scientists thought that a penguin’s embryo might yield the missing evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds. Wilson, an explorer and naturalist, had discovered on an earlier mission that penguins laid their eggs in the middle of the Antarctic winter. Thus he realized that a mid-winter expedition to the penguins’ Cape Crozier breeding grounds would be the only way to obtain the embryonic egg that could advance evolutionary theory.
In June 1911, Wilson (in the portrait at right) set off across Ross Island with companions Birdie Bowers and Apsley Cherry-Garrard. The wind howled and temperatures averaged -60º Fahrenheit. When the mercury fell to -77º, the unfortunate Brits shivered so violently that they cracked teeth and feared breaking bones. During one particularly violent blizzard, their tent blew away, and the three men remained bundled in their sleeping bags, clinging to life beneath a growing snowdrift. But they were successful: They brought three penguin eggs safely back to their winter quarters at Cape Evans.
It was a supremely British expedition, one that prompted Wilson to call it “the weirdest bird’s-nesting expedition that has ever been or ever will be.” After all was said and done—Wilson and Scott froze to death on the return trip from the South Pole—Cherry-Garrard brought the eggs to the American Museum of Natural History. There a supremely unimpressed custodian allegedly greeted him with a sneer: “Who are you? What do you want? This ain’t an egg shop.”
Though the Scott Polar Research Institute has long had a copy of the journal text, historians thought the original, complete with illustrations and hand-written annotations by Scott, was lost to the ages. It wasn’t until Wilson’s descendants recently put some of his belongings up for sale that the journal was rediscovered.
Wilson didn’t have the literary flair of his friend Scott, but representatives at Bonhams say the journal “has sufficient color for anyone with imagination.” —Peter Koch
Images via NOAA
Good to revise the history.Thanks for the article.
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/halong-cruise-tours.html
Posted by: Hai | February 25, 2012 at 03:49 PM
Though the Scott Polar Research Institute has long had a copy of the journal text, historians thought the original, complete with illustrations and hand-written annotations by Scott, was lost to the ages. It wasn’t until Wilson’s descendants recently put some of his belongings up for sale that the journal was rediscovered.
Posted by: dating with russian women | January 24, 2012 at 04:05 PM
Real Madrid have two, heads basis is a uefa not explain why want punishment mourinho, uefa never pointed out that jose mourinho has actually violated the rules; the specific 2 it is uefa rules have no points out like jose mourinho this speech is illegal, mourinho said was because that uefa runs a freedom of speech, that punishment is not allowed.
Posted by: Tom Hanks | January 20, 2012 at 11:26 AM
very interesting story. i like reading your blog
Posted by: chemistry homework help | January 16, 2012 at 09:49 AM
Whenever I visit your blog, I can feel the spirit of devotion to the job and willingness to learn. Your smile enlightens me. I am happy meeting you. Your posts on the steps to follow in preparing and using tools in addition to your blog will be a reference in future.
Posted by: web hosting | December 02, 2011 at 05:33 AM
I have always been a fan of your new featured articles.
Posted by: Love Quotes | October 27, 2011 at 02:16 AM
That's insane that someone's journal is worth that much money...anybody want my travel journals,so good.can you tell me ??wholesale cheap http://www.shopwholesalehandbags.com/womens-boots-c-28.html designer cheap womens boots make you happy.
Posted by: cheap replica handbags | September 28, 2011 at 03:31 AM
That's insane that someone's journal is worth that much money...anybody want my travel journals
wholesale cheap http://www.shopwholesalehandbags.com designer handbags
Posted by: cheap replica handbags | September 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM
btheghe
thanks admin for sharing this cool thing with us.
kkliyut
Posted by: knockoff handbags | September 07, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Everyone has their own opinions and views for things, And we honestly don't have the rights to question your decisions... if you want to sell your journal.
Posted by: training courses | August 25, 2011 at 06:59 AM
What comes up into your mind and make you decide to sell your journal? Your journal serves as the fruit of your hard works and passion. How can you name your price for it....knowing sentimental value worth more than just money?
Posted by: Graphic Design Courses | August 25, 2011 at 02:22 AM
Selling it now makes no sense at all. Who ever own it now, still it's your name that marks in people's head.
Posted by: Home Education | August 25, 2011 at 01:57 AM
Selling it now makes no sense at all. Who ever own it now, still it's your name that marks in people's head.
Posted by: Home Education | August 25, 2011 at 01:57 AM
Real Madrid have two, heads basis is a uefa not explain why want punishment mourinho, uefa never pointed out that jose mourinho has actually violated the rules; the specific 2 it is uefa rules have no points out like jose mourinho this speech is illegal, mourinho said was because that uefa runs a freedom of speech, that punishment is not allowed.
In fact against real Madrid and jose mourinho, speaking, and uefa rebel, also is more a posture, as to whether a mitigated punishment, not the single most important, after all, suspended in the champions league group stages, in just the last season and many times that game, mourinho is not sideline coaching for real influence, is not big.df Real Madrid just want to through this for their rights practice tell uefa, jose mourinho and real Madrid is not casually, next time again want to bully made such a decision, must first dian dian to just go.
Posted by: true religion oultet | June 11, 2011 at 04:52 AM
the information of this post is very relevant
for what i am looking for, thank you so much for sharing this one
Posted by: ferragamo shoes | March 03, 2011 at 09:36 PM
hey,this is one of the best posts that I’ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post.
Posted by: wholesale gucci | January 10, 2011 at 03:17 AM
wow all those garments are so amazing and fabulous I don't come to your blog as often as I would like, but whenever I do I see some really amazing things keep up the good work! =)
Posted by: a list of italian designer handbags | November 28, 2010 at 10:52 PM
wow all those garments are so amazing and fabulous I don't come to your blog as often as I would like, but whenever I do I see some really amazing things keep up the good work! =)
Posted by: Christmas gifts | October 16, 2010 at 03:40 AM
hi guys ... I really enjoyed reading this blog so interesting ... congratulations for writing such quality material. I would love to receive more information about Antarctic Eggs-pedition Journal For Sale
Posted by: costa rica hotels | June 08, 2010 at 01:17 AM
That's insane that someone's journal is worth that much money...anybody want my travel journals
http://pinacoladakisses.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Kelly | August 23, 2009 at 08:58 PM