Antarctic Relief Expedition, 1903-1904--Souter, Dr William Clark, and others.

Small 4to (225 x 145mm.), 50 photographs (each approximately 73 x 95mm., or the reverse), including glossy gelatin, and matt, silver-prints, 48 window mounted (in rectangular and oval mounts), each mounted photograph captioned in ink on the mount, and one photograph on the lower and upper pastedowns, contemporary green cloth, some tears to the paper-covered card mounts

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The photographs display a complete visual narrative of the expedition from Dundee, passing through the Suez Canal, leaving Hobart, New Zealand, the S.Y. Morning, Franklin Island, sledge parties, the Terra Nova at work, "half-way camp", Mount Erebus, the Discovery in Winter harbour, blasting the ice, Possession Islands, Auckland Isles, Lyttleton, Port Stanley, coaling at the Falklands, Plymouth and arriving at Sheerness.

Dr William Clark Souter (1880-1959), ophthalmic surgeon and lecturer in Aberdeen University received the polar medal for his service as ship's surgeon on the Terra Nova relief expedition to the Antarctic in 1903-04. His papers are preserved at the University of Aberdeen, and include 51 captioned photographs (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/Antarctic_1.shtml). The present album includes 18 of the photographs held by Aberdeen, and the others are very likely also by Souter, apart from two photographs by Watt of Dundee. The captions in this album are nearly identical to those in Aberdeen and it is possible that the annotations in this album are in Souter's hand and that this album was compiled by him. The photograph on the preliminary pastedown is a reduced copy of a poster announcing a lecture by Souter on Friday 10th February 1905 in Stratford "illustrated by a large number of lime-light views from photographs taken by the lecturer" in aid of the West Ham Hospital Extension Fund.