Lot 151: EDWARD ADRIAN WILSON (1872-1912)

Four autograph letters signed ('E.A. Wilson') to Sir Archibald Geikie, Madeira (2), Cape Town and Christchurch, 23 June - 27 November 1910, on paper with embossed British Antarctic Expedition vignette stamp, together 14 pages, 4to and 8vo. [ With :] A studio portrait photograph of Wilson by G.P. Woodward of Cheltenham. Gelatin silver print (142 x 102mm.), mounted on card with photographer's gilt credit stamp, inscribed 'Edward Adrian Wilson BA. MB Cantab Head of the Scientific Staff National Antarctic Expedition 1910-12'. Provenance : Edward Thomas Wilson (father of the sitter, inscription) -- F.G. Wilson (aunt of the sitter) -- Mrs Pye Smith. [ And :] Autograph letter signed by F.G. Wilson to Mrs Pye Smith, 22 December 1913, accompanying the portrait photograph, 'his father wrote the name underneath & this is the one we all like best'. [ Together with :] a printed programme for the unveiling of the Wilson Memorial in Cheltenham, 9 July 1914. The first of Wilson's letters to Geikie apologises for not having had time to say goodbye, as gaining practical experience of whaling in the Shetland Islands has taken more time than expected -- 'We are now however fully equipped for whaling, & I hope to bring home two or three new & undescribed species which I know to live in the antarctic waters' -- giving an unpeat appraisal of the expedition members: 'I don't think we could have hit on a nicer lot of Naval officers -- all as keen as possible to help in the Scientific work... The Scientific staff... are an excellent lot', asking for copies of the Discovery's Antarctic Album to be sent out for use as gifts in New Zealand. The second letter, written as they are about to set sail, asks for another copy of the album for the navigating lieutenant [Pennell]. The third letter thanks Geikie for the albums; 'Our voyage has been one of the pleasantest experiences I have met with... Captain Scott has taken my place on the "Terra Nova" from here to Melbourne... Scott's object in the change was to get to know his people on the "Terra Nova", while I reach Melbourne before he does, & choose another Geologist there, probably Priestley'. The final letter reports 'how exceedingly successful and satisfactory all the preliminary arrangements have been... The horses and the dogs are all in first rate condition', and reporting plans for departure; the only blow was in 'finding that J. Allan Thomson... who was to have accompanied us as one of our three Geologists, was suffering from phthisis [i.e. pulmonary tuberculosis]'; ending 'I hope when I next write it will be to say that we have made good use of our staff and opportunities'. A fine series of letters, written from the various ports of call en route to the Antarctic, from the chief scientist on the expedition to perhaps the most famous British scientific name of the time. Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924), the noted geologist, was from 1908-1912 president of the Royal Society. The Society was one of the main sponsors of the expedition, and Geikie a great supporter of its scientific aims. (7).