Selected polar ephemera

The following list contains a selection of ephemera (cards, leaflets, programmes, etc.) and some other miscellaneous items which are not always easy to find in the National Library of Scotland's catalogues. It does not include manuscript and photographic collections. The Library's shelfmark for each title is given in square brackets.

'Polar printing' is the term given to materials printed, usually on board ship, during polar voyages of discovery and exploration.

Advertising
postcard
from Scott's last
expedition

Cards (advertising trade cards, cigarette cards, postcards, etc.)

• 'Admiral Byrd's ship "The City of New York"' — postcard (Chicago, 1933)[GB/A.3811 (14)]
• 'Dr Forbes Mckay' — pictorial postcard (S.l., 1909?) [GB/B.2085(10)]
• 'Greetings from the Byrd Antarctic Expedition' — five postcards (San Francisco, 1934) [GB/A.3847 (3)]
• Ponies on arrival in Antarctica — postcard (England, 1909) [GB/A.3811 (11)]
• 'Souvenir de l'Expedition Antarctique Belge' — five postcards (Brussels, c.1900) [GB/A.3831 (6)]
• 'The summit of Mount Erebus 13,500 feet high' — pictorial postcard (S.l., 1909?) [GB/B.2086(9)]

Leaflets

• 'Capt R E Priestley ... will deliver a lecture entitled "The Pleasant side of four years' expedition around the South Pole"' — lecture advertisement sheet (S.l., 1916) [GB/C.266 (5)]

Miscellaneous

• 'Centenary celebration: The Wilkes Exploring Expedition ... and symposium on polar exploration' — programme with a Christmas card reproducing Wilkes' chart (Philadelphia, 1940] [Wordie.381(4)]
• Press cuttings relating to Sir Ernest Shackleton, August 1909-May 1916. 4 vols [Wordie 346-49]
• 'Southward on the "Quest"' (Shackleton's last Antarctic expedition) — photogaphic souvenir (S.l., c.1922) [Wordie.1667(9)]
• 'To Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton C.V.O., Commander of the British Antarctic Expedition' — illuminated address of welcome from Ilford Urban District Council. (London,1910) [GB/B.2076]

We hold some more ephemeral material relating to Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition in the Wordie manuscripts collections at Acc.12599 (18,19).

Polar Printing

• 'Aurora Australis' — first book printed in Antarctica (The Antarctic, 1908) [GB/B.422; GB/B.907 (1986 facsim. ed.)]
• 'Royal Victoria Theatre ... will be performed ... the South Polar Expedition, or, the discoveries of Capts. Ross & Crozier' — playbill(Hobart, 1841) [GB/C.235]

Board games

• 'Die Reise nach dem Nordpol' — board game in its original box featuring a polar exploration theme (Germany, c.1869) [GB/A.3833]

Cards

• 'Campagne scientifique de la "Princesse Alice"' — 12 postcards of a research voyage to Spitsbergen (Paris, c.1898) [GB/A.3811 (16)]
• 'Die Fram nach der grossen Eispressung' — postcard showing Nansen's boat 'Fram' (Leipzig, 19--) [GB/A.2615 (1)]
• 'In search for the North Pole' — Meyrick's Thread trade card (New York, c.1900) [GB/A.3847 (1)]
• Four postcards of the Papanin Arctic Expedition (S.l., c.1938) [Pc.249 (1-4)]
• Polar exploration — 25 cigarette cards (Nottingham, c.1910) [GB/C.266 (2)]
• Polar exploration — 25 cigarette cards (Nottingham, c.1930) [RB.s.2419]
• 'Shipboard scenes from a British Naval Arctic expedition' — card with two coloured chromolithograph prints] (S.l., c.1870?) [GB/A.3811 (4)]
• Stereo cards (20) dealing chiefly with exploration and whaling in the Canadian Arctic and in Greenland (New York, c.1902) [GB/A.1589 (9)]

Catalogues

• Catalogue of the Arctic collection in the British Museum: with a list of Arctic relics in the United Services Museum and the Painted Hall at Greenwich, by W Parker Snow (London, 1858) [3.279]

Miscellaneous

• 'B A A R E 1930-1931' — Menu signed by members of the British Arctic Air Route Expedition. Folded maps and photograph of four surviving members at 60th anniversary lunch are inserted (S.l., 1931) [GB/C.276(2)]
• 'The Quest dinner to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sailing from St Katherine's Dock of the British Arctic Air Route Expedition to East Greenland, leader Gino Watkins, on July 6th 1930' — menu (London, 1955) [GB/B.2017(12)]

Pictorial works

• 'The "Alert" pressed on in Kennedy Channel' — print (S.l., c.1875) [GB/C.284]
• 'Arrival at the north Pole', by George Cruickshank — cartoon print. (London?), 1835) [GB/C.276(6)]
• 'Captain, officers, crew of H.M.S. Alert Polar expedition, 1875' — one sheet with photographic vignettes of the ship's crew encircling an image of their vessel. (London?, 1875?) [GB/C.274]
• 'Decoraciones de teatro: paisaje polar' — coloured backdrop for puppet or children's theatre (Barcelona, c.1890) [GB/C.237]
• Four plates from Durocher's 'Atlas Geologique'(Paris, 184- )[Wordie.1667 (1)]
• 'The Great polo match' — cartoon print making fun of the New York Herald's preparations for the 'Jeanette' expedition (New York, 1882) [GB/C.270(2)]
• 'La Conquête du Pôle' — cartoon poster showing the international rivalry in the race to be first at the North Pole (S.l., 1912?) [GB/C.228]
• 'Landing the treasures, or results of the polar expedition', by George Cruickshank — cartoon print on Sir John Ross's 1818 Northwest Passage expedition (London, 1819) [GB/B.439 (4)]
• 'The Moloch of Arctic discovery: the world's sacrifices to a whim of science' — cartoon print showing the human cost of polar exploration (New York, 1882) [GB/C.270 (1)]
• 'Northern whale fishery' — colour print depicting whaling off Greenland (London, 1829) [GB/C.262]
• 'Overheard by Judge's explorer in the Polar regions' — cartoon print with a series of humorous illustrations of polar exploration (New York, 1897) [GB/C.270 (3)]
• 'Science or sport: a modern spectacle after an old model' — cartoon print depicting sufferings of Arctic explorers (New York, 1882) [GB/C.253]
• Series of 26 plates drawn by Captain Lyon illustrating Eskimo life in the Arctic (London, 1924) [Wordie.1667(7)]
• 'Ten coloured views taken during the Arctic expedition ... of Captain James C Ross', by W H J Browne (London, 1850) [Cb.2; Wordie.1337]

Polar printing

• 'Arctic salt beef', by B Wyatt — song sheet (HMS Discovery, 1875) [GB/B.501 (4)]
• 'Arctic shoe mart' — broadside (HMS Discovery, 1875) [GB/B.501 (1)]
• 'Arctic swell', by J Murray — song sheet (HMS Discovery, 1875) [GB/B.501 (2) ; GB/B.501 (3)]
• 'Cool as a cucumber' — playbill (The Arctic: Royal Alexandra Theatre, 18 February 1876) [GB/B.501 (5)]
• Grand concert — concert programme (The Arctic: Royal Alexandra Theatre, 16 December 1875) [GB/B.501 (6, 7)]
• 'Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw' — playbill and concert programme (The Arctic: Royal Alexandra Theatre, 23 December 1875) [GB/B.501 (8)]
• 'North Georgia Gazette and Winter Chronicle' — reprint of shipboard newspaper published during Parry's first Arctic expedition (London, 1821) [Wordie.1311; 3.415 (1)]
• 'Roberts' moving diorama of the polar expedition' — playbill (London, 1829) [GB/C.92]
• 'Who speaks first' — playbill (The Arctic: Royal Alexandra Theatre, 30 December 1875) [GB/B.501 (9)]

Scott's two expeditions were on the 'Discovery' (1901-1904) and on the 'Terra Nova' (1910-1913)

Cards

• 'British Antarctic Expedition' — postcard advert for Fry's cocoa and chocolate (Bristol, 1910) [GB/B.1144 (19)]
• 'British Girls' Memorial Fund' — card acknowledging fundraising contribution for a Captain Scott memorial (Wokingham, 1913) [GB/B.938 (18)]
• 'Captain Robert Falcon Scot' — photographic postcards (London?, 191-)(S.l., 1913)
• 'Captain Scott's South Polar Expedition: Lieut Bowers' — postcard (S.l., 1913) [GB/A.3811 (9)
• 'Captain Scott's South Polar Expedition: Dr Wilson' — postcard (S.l., 1913) [GB/A.3811 (10)]
• 'Heroes of the South Pole: Captain Scott, Captain Oates, Lieut Bowers, Dr Wilson, E Evans' — postcard (London, 1913) [GB/A.3847 (5)]
• 'In memory of the Antarctic heroes: the late Captain Scott and his gallant comrades' — postcard (S.l., 1912) [GB/A.3812 (10)]
• 'With the best of good wishes for Christmas and the New Year' — Christmas card containing quotation and Antarctic watercolour sketches of Dr Edward Wilson (S.l., 19--) [GB/C.119 (26)]

Catalogues

• 'British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913: exhibition of photographic pictures of Mr Herbert Ponting' — illustrated catalogue (London, 1914) [Wordie.385 (85)]
• 'British Antarctic Expedition: catalogue of an exhibition ... sketches, water-colours and drawings by E A Wilson' (Dundee, 19--) [HP2.88.22]
• 'Captain Scott's South Pole Expedition, 1910-1913 ... Antarctic sketches and watercolours by E A Wilson' — exhibition catalogue (S.l., 1914) Wordie.373 (19)
• 'Catalogue of the books of the "Discovery"' — listing of the shipboard library of Captain Scott's Discovery Expedition (London, 1901) [GB/A.3844]
• '"Discovery" Antarctic Expedition' — exhibition catalogue (London, 1904) [Wordie.374 (4,5)]
• 'The National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904' — exhibition catalogue (Dundee, 1987) [HP2.87.4202]

Leaflets

• The Scott Antarctic Expedition: souvenirs — advertisement sheet (London, 1913?) [GB/C.240 (4)]
• The Scott memorial portrait: Messrs Maull & Fox ... have prepared ... a photogravure plate — advertising leaflet (London, 1913) [GB/C.266 (4)]
• 'Scott's last expedition/The Voyage of the Discovery' — advertising leaflet for new editions of these works (London, 19--) [GB/C.119 (30, 31)]
• With Captain Scott ... to the South Pole — invitation to cinema screening (Cardiff?; c.1912) [GB/A.2165 (12)]

Miscellaneous

• '90 South: official film record of Captain Scott ... by H G Ponting' — souvenir programme (S.l., 1934) [GB/C.119 (17); Wordie.373 (9)]
• 'Epic of the South Pole: kinematograhic record of Captain Scott's last expedition ..., by H G Ponting' — souvenir booklet (London, 1930?) [Wordie.373 (9)]
• Four printed menus for meals given in honour of members of the British Antarctic Expedition (Cardiff, London, Cape Town, 1910-1914 [GB/A.4175(6)]
• 'J Arthur Rank presents John Mills in "Scott of the Antarctic"' — promotional booklet (London, 1949) [GB/C.194]
• 'Memorial service for those who perished in the Antarctic Expedition' — programme (St Paul's, 14/2/1913) [GB/C.119 (17)]
• 'Savage Club welcome home dinner to the officers of the National Antarctic Expedition' — illustrated menu (London?, 1904) [GB/C.257]
• 'A service in commemoration of Captain Lawrence Edward Grace Oates: born 17th March 1880, died 17th March 1912 when serving with Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition: Sunday 18th March, 1962 at 3.15 p.m.' — programme. (Leeds, 1962) [GB/B.1922(11)]
• 'Souvenir of lecture "The British Antarctic Expedition", by Edward Evans' — brochure (Bristol, 1913) [Wordie.385 (80)]
• 'With Captain Scott in the Antarctic, by H Ponting' — lecture souvenir (London, 1916) [GB/C.119 (18); Wordie.373 (10)]

Pictorial works

• 'Buchanan's special Red Seal' — chromolithograph depicting the 'Discovery' amid Antarctic ice, a promotional item for Red Seal whisky (London, 1901) [GB/C.285]
• 'The National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904' — portfolio of panoramas (London, 1908) [S.300.c]

Polar printing

• 'The South Polar Times' — facsimile reproduction of journal compiled by members of Scott's expeditions (London, 1907-1914) [S.52.a; GB/B.1545 (2002 rep. ed.)]

Cartoon postcard
showing Cook
and Peary

The Americans Frederick Cook and Robert Peary each claimed to have been the first to have reached the North Pole. Cook's claim has largely been discounted by polar experts, but, while Peary undoubtedly got much nearer to it than did Cook, his claim too has not been universally accepted. It seems that this is a controversy that may never be conclusively resolved.

Board games

• 'Kampen om Nordpolen'— board game illustrating the race to the North Pole between Cook and Peary (Stockholm, c.1910) [GB/B.1233 (9)]

Cards

• 'Commander Robert E Peary: discoverer of the North Pole' — postcard (Boston, Mass., 1909) [GB/A.3847 (1)]
• Complete set (50) of postcards from the Cook and Peary accounts of their expeditions to the North Pole (Chicago, 1909) [GB/A.3809 (8)]
• 'Discovered' — cartoon postcard depicting Peary welcoming Cook at the Pole (S.l., 1909) [GB/A.3811(12)]
• 'Doctor Frederick A Cook: discoverer of the North Pole' — postcard (Boston, Mass., 1909) [GB/A.3847 (2)]
• 'Dr Frederick A Cook, Arctic explorer' — postcard (Chicago, 1908) [GB/A.3847 (7)]
• 'Peary's North Pole Expedition, by B Hampton' — six postcards (New York, 1910) [GB/A.3811(8)]
• 'Stars and stripes nailed to the North Pole' — postcard depicting Cook and Peary (New York, 1909) [GB/A.3811 (15)]

Leaflets

• 'Dr Frederick A Cook's lectures ... his thrilling Arctic experiences' — publicity leaflet (New York, 1911?) [GB/B.1425 (10)]

Pictorial works

• 'Commander Robert E Peary will give a complete account of his discovery of the North Pole' — poster (New York, 1910, rep. 199-) [GB/C.259]
• 'La Conquête du pôle' — two posters (S.l., c.1912) [GB/C.228]
• 'Le Pôle nord' — cartoons on the race to the North Pole and the conflicting claims of Cook and Peary ('Assiette au beurre', 16/10/1909) [GB/C.171 (4)]
• 'The twin ships of the Peary Expedition, 1901' — two mounted photographs (Meadville, PA., 1901) [GB/A.3843 (7)]

Sir John Franklin's expedition to discover a Northwest Passage to Asia left England in 1845, but then disappeared without trace. In the decade after 1847 a large number of ships was dispatched to look for him and, while unable to find any survivors, they added greatly to geographical knowledge of the Canadian Arctic.

Catalogues

• Catalogue of the Franklin relics in the museum of the United Services Institution, Whitehall (London, 1857) [3.279 (1)]

Miscellaneous

• 'Discovered: the first traces ever found of the expedition under the command of Sir John Franklin ... by Erasmus Ommaney' — autographed sheet (S.l., 1877) GB/A.2996(2)

Pictorial works

• 'The Arctic Council discussing the plan of search for Sir John Franklin' — reproduction print of painting by Stephen Pearce (London, 1853, rep. c.1980) [GB/C.258]
• 'A series of fourteen sketches made ... in search of Sir John Franklin ... by W W May' (London, 1855) [Wordie.1667 (6)]

Polar printing

• 'The Arctic mariner' — song sheet (Arctic regions, 1851) [GB/C.130 (2)]
• 'Illustrated Arctic News' — facsimile of newspaper produced on board HMS Resolute in 1850 (London, 1852) [K.77.b; Wordie.381 (4)]
• 'Opening of the Royal Arctic Theatre' — playbill (HMS Assistance, 1850) [GB/C.168]
• 'Prologue to the opening of the Theatre Royal, Melville Island' — playbill (Melville Island, 1852) [GB/C.225]
• 'Queens Arctic Theatre HMS Assistance' — playbill (Northumberland Sound, 1852) [GB/C.219]
• 'Royal Arctic Theatre' — playbill (HMS Assistance, 1851) [GB/C.130 (1)]
• 'Soirées fantastiques' — playbill (Melville Island: HMS Intrepid, 1853) [GB/C.110 (1)]
• 'Theatre Royal, Melville Island ... last performance this season ... on board HMS Resolute' — playbill (Melville Island, 1853) [GB/C.110 (2, 3)]

• 'Application to the Prime Minister from the Committee of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition' — publishing grant application (Edinburgh, 1909) [GB/A.2139 (6)]
• Outline map of Laurie Island, South Orkneys, by W S Bruce et al (Edinburgh, 1904) [Map.m.197.1]
• 'The Proposed Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, by W S Bruce' — offprint from journal (Edinburgh, 1900) [Wordie.378 (6)]
• 'Scotia: suite of Scottish country dances honouring the achievements of William Spiers Bruce, by R Goldring, M Johnstone' (Edinburgh, 2002) [HP3.205.1201]