POLAR MEMORIALS

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 11

POLAR MEMORIALS

THE KINSEY COLLECTION RELICS FOR THE KATIOH HOME IH TURNBULL LIBRARY (I.) Contacts made with New Zealand and New -Zealanders by noted men taking part in Antarctic research expeditions have exerted a great influence in spreading across the world knowledge of and goodwill toward this country. Of all the individual hosts associated with Antarctic explorers the most widely known and respected, perhaps, was the late Sir Joseph Kinsey, of Christchurch. Sir Joseph was an ardent book and art collector in the ordinary course, but both his business and his interest inclined him toward polar exploration, and in following this bent he collected throughout the last generation thousands of interesting, rare, and intimate relics associated with polar explorers and scientists. Such possessions have passed to the nation, and are housed in the Alexander Turnbull Library and the Dominion Museum in Wellington. While most of the polar books that ■belonged to Sir Joseph are not particularly rare or valuable as_ such, a great many have such associations that they are lifted out of the common class and become of exclusive interest. Nobody, probably, possessed'a more complete set ef autographs, letters, and thanks of the authors or of old associates who had Sir Joseph in mind when some titbit or rare relic of polar exploration was encountered across the world. There are also a number of albums of original photographs of outstanding merit and importance. One of the most interesting books is ‘ Aurora Australis,’ which was written, illustrated, printed, and bound in Antarctica. It was published at the winter ■quarters of the British. Antarctic Expedition, 1907. It is illustrated with lithographs and etchings by G. Marston. This was the first book printed in the polar regions. The editor was Lieutenant (Sir Ernest) Shackleton. The covers of this book are made from old packing cases containing the provisions. There are two copies of * Aurora Australis ’ in the Turnbull Library, and each bears the stencil marks, the Turnbull copy having a reference on the inside to “ Beans ” and the - Kinsey copy being bound at the back with a board stamped “ . . . uli-

enne Soup.” Only 90 copies were printed, and the majority were acquired by members of the expedition. In 1919 a copy was sold at Sotheby’s for £8 ss. In addition to the finished book, Sir Joseph possessed a printer’s proof copy, one of the first impressions of the type. This makes a fitting companion for the two complete ones. In the front of this book is the announcement: “ Published at the winter quarters of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907, during the winter months of April, May, June, and July, 1008. Illustrated with lithographs and etchings by George Marston. Printed at the sign of ‘ The Penguins ’ by Joyce and Wild. Latitude 77deg 32min south, longitude IGGdog 12min east, Antarctica.” A “ trade mark ” is printed in vermillion, with the design of two penguins, standing as though conversing. “ The reader,” said Shackleton in his preface, “ will understand better the difficulty of producing such a book quite up to the mark when he is told that, owing to the low temperature in the hut, the only way to keep the printing ink in a fit state to use was to have a candle burning under the inking plate; and so, if some pages are printed more lightly than others, it is duo to the difficulty of regulating the heat, and consequently the thinning or thickening of the ink. Again, the printing office was only about 6ft by 7ft and had to accommodate a large sewing machine and bunks for two men, so the lack of room was a disadvantage. But I feel sure that those who see this book will not be captious critics.” “ Like Napoleon’s army, an Arctic expedition ‘ crawls on its belly,’ and J. Kinsey filled it,” wrote Dr Griffith Taylor in one of the two copies of his book ‘With Scott—the Silver Lining,’ published in 1916. Both copies have the hook plate of the author and the inscription “J. J. Kinsey, with kind regards and remembrances from ‘ an ordinary seaman ’ of the Terra Nova.” In one of the books is a letter written by Taylor to Sir Joseph from Melbourne: —“ Our mutual friend, Captain (John K.) Davis (master of the Nimrod, 1907-09, and of the Aurora, 1911131, has inveigled me into a deed which redounds to his credit—but not at all to mine! You have hoard that I have written a book on the Scott expedition. It is selling at an unholy price (it was 22s 6d); so that, having bought me a house and acquired a small child, I can by no means give my friends copies of the same. Davis has spent his hardearned gold on this Antarctic record, and has insisted that I inscribe it as from me!. I should much have liked to have sent such a staunch friend to exploration as yourself a copy—but 1 can’t afford it. However, you won’t think any the less of Davis for his kindly deception.”

“To J. J. Kinsey, the expedition’s friend, with all gratitude from Kathleen (Lady) Scott and Orana F. Wilson, November 6, 1913,” is the autographed inscription in ‘ Scott’s Last Expedition,’ in two volumes. ‘ A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern Antarctic Regions During the Years 1839-43,’ by Captain Sir James Clark Ross, R.N., as published in 1847, was used by Shackleton and presented to Sir Joseph Kinsey in 1909. Another interesting book is one that, having infringed the copyright _of ‘ Scott’s Last Expedition,’ was withdrawn entirely from sale. It was called ‘ The Story of Captain Scott,’ and was written by Miss Mary Macgregor, published by T. C. and E. C. Jack. An apology was published by the publishers in December, 1914. Sir Joseph’s collection contained two copies of this rare book.

Herbert G. Ponting, F.R.G.S., celebrated Antarctic photographer, presented an autographed copy of his book, 1 The Great White South,’ to Sir Joseph, and Raold Amundsen presented two copies of his hook, 1 The South Pole,’ “ to J. J . Kinsey, with warmest regards.” Autographed by R. Scott and Edward A. Wilson is a copy of the photographic album of the National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-04, issued by the Royal Society. Another interesting possession for philatelists is a letter with special stamps from King Edward VII. Land and from Victoria Land cancelled with the British Antarctic Expedition’s stamp. It is in Raymond Priestley’s ‘ Antarctic Adventure.’