Robert Falcon Scott—John Thomson | Signed photograph of Scott, c. 1900

Robert Falcon Scott—John Thomson

Signed photograph of Robert Falcon Scott, circa. 1900

platinum print (145 x 100mm.) of Robert Falcon Scott by John Thomson, SIGNED BY SCOTT on the image in ink with his family name ("Con") in dark ink, laid on the photographer's original mount with Thomson's name and address ("J. Thomson" / "70a Grosvenor St, W.") and with his Royal Warrant blindstamped at the centre foot of the mount ("By Royal Warrant / Photographer to / Her Majesty the Queen"), mount browned

A FINE AND RARE SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH OF ROBERT FALCON SCOTT TAKEN BY THE PIONEERING PHOTOGRAPHER AND TRAVELLER JOHN THOMSON.

Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912) was known as Con by his immediate family, which suggests that this photograph was a gift for a family member, and may have been taken around the time just before or after Scott was appointed leader of the British Antarctic expedition. In June 1899 when on leave from naval service on the Majestic Scott met up with Sir Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographical Society, and learned of maturing plans for a British Antarctic expedition. "Scott promptly applied for the command, despite, as he later put it, having 'no predilection for Polar exploration'. On 9 June 1900 a joint committee of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society agreed to appoint Scott as leader. Shortly afterwards he was gazetted commander" (ODNB). 

John Thomson (1837-1921) was one of the first photographers to travel to the Far East and became famous for his photographs of Cambodia, Hong Kong and China. On his return home he built on his photographic experience and took a series of important portraits of London street life from 1876-77. In 1879 Thomson was elected a member of the Photographic Society, and went on to become a society portrait photographer, opening a studio in Buckingham Palace Road in 1879, and then moving to 70a Grosvenor Street in Mayfair. In 1881 Thomson was awarded a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria and from January 1886 Thomson began instructing explorers at the Royal Geographical Society in the use of photography to document their travels. He retired from his commercial studio in 1910 and spent most of his time back in Edinburgh where he died in 1921.

PROVENANCE:

The Polar Sale: Scott & Admundsen Centenary, Bonhams 30 March 2012, lot 45 (part)