Menus & Souvenir programme from the library of Henry Dunlop,
Chief engineer on the Nimrod.
1907-1913.
The collection comprises:
1. 'To Celebrate the birthdays of our Shipmates H.J. Dunlop; & W.A.R. Michell at "Latitude 40"S. 30'/ Longitude 50"E.30'', manuscript menu, in red and black ink on printed card, signed on the reverse by Michell, Murray, Davis, Mackintosh, Mackay, Dunlop and Captain England, headed with the printed National Antarctic Expedition badge (Nimrod added in ink), 8vo (15.5 x 11.2 cm.)
Menu for a meal to celebrate the birthdays of four shipmates of the Nimrod, given whilst en route to Christchurch - at this point half way between South Africa and the Kerguelen Islands. Signed by four of the ship's officers and three of the eventual shore party. Food includes Potage. Dominion Crême D'Unloppè and Dessert. Abricot au Shackleton. 18 October 1907.
2. 'Complimentary Dinner Given to Lieutenant Shackleton and the Scientists and Officers of the Antarctic Expedition of 1907', menu signed by Shackleton, Bernard Day, William Roberts, and 7 others, 4pp., upper cover printed in gilt with the 'Antarctic Expedition S.Y. Nimrod 1907'. emblem in blue, 12mo (11.3 x 8.8 cm.), Christchurch, Freeman's Rooms. 19 December 1907.
Menu given for members of the Nimrod expedition by the Canterbury establishment. Shackleton was presented with a copper salver made from bolts taken from Nelson's ship Victory, and Bishop Julius gave his blessing at an event attended by some eighty local dignitaries.
[With]
Menu held for the 'British Antarctic Expedition' dinner held at the Canterbury Club, Christchurch, signed by Shackleton, Wild, Edgworth Davis, and approximately 30 others, 4pp., oval photographic illustration of polar scenes on upper and lower cover, signatures on inside and lower pages, punch holes at fore-edge, 8vo (15.5 x 10.5 cm.) 30 December 1907.
Nimrod arrived at Lyttleton harbour on 25 March 1909 to a heroic welcome by the New Zealand public. The 'luncheon' held at the United Service Hotel the following day appears to have been a relatively intimate one, the menu signed by Shackleton, all but 2 members of the Shore Party, and 3 of the ship's officers but none of the usual local dignitaries, and was apparently unreported in the press.
[With]
'Luncheon Menu. British Antarctic Expedition. United Service Hotel, Christchurch', signed by Shackleton and eighteen other members of the British Antarctic Expedition., 4-page menu, the upper cover colour-printed with British flags. 26 March 1909.
[With]
'Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. Complimentary Banquet to Lieut. E.H. Shackleton, M.V.C., the Shore Party and Officers of the S.Y. Nimrod, on their return from Antarctica', signed by John K. Davis (Nimrod's first officer), Henry Dunlop, and 24 other attendees, 4-page menu, the upper cover printed with map of the South Pole (showing position reached by Discovery and Nimrod), split at fold. 3 April 1909.
Nimrod arrived at Lyttleton harbour on 25 March 1909 to a heroic welcome by the New Zealand public. The banquet at the Philosophical Institute was a public affair, at which 'a standing ovation was given to Shackleton and loud applause as he responded to the many toasts to the expedition. He said that 'They always felt dissatisfied with what might have been done... but on that plateau, with no 'grub' inside them... they were forced to turn back. There had been no gentle maidens to rest their heads upon!' This was a reference to a duet that had been sung earlier in the evening and was received with laughter' (The Press, 5/4/09, p.8).
[With]
'South Polar Dinner given by John Howard Mcfadden. June 13. 1913' large-format menu card embellished with an original watercolour oval vignette by George Marston the Nimrod artist of a polar scene (man, sledge and tent against snow-covered mountains), large penguin and decoration, signed by the artist on the vignette, 28.4 x 19.4 cm. (the oval vignette c.6.8 x 9.5 cm.), Oddenino's Imperial Restaurant. 13 June 1913.
Celebratory menu illustrated by George Marston. 'One wealthy friend was so far interested as to give an Antarctic dinner at a famous restaurant to all the available men who had been in the far South. The table was transformed into a picture of the Antarctic with artificial snow and real ice, where large models of the Nimrod and the Aurora were placed at the edge of an ice-barrier thickly peopled by penguins, and Marston, the Antarctic artist, painted special menu cards. It was a gay gathering, enlivened towards the close by songs from Harry Lauder; but, alas! the rich and kindly host did not pursue his hospitality to the point of providing transportation for his guests to revisit the haunts they longed for' (The Life of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, 1923, pp.191-2).
[With]
Souvenir programme. 4to, 'Sir Ernest Shackleton to give his Popular Lecture entitled Nearest the South Pole at the Music Hall, Chester', signed twice by Shackleton ('E.H. Shackleton') in ink on the map, once at the location of Farthest South and once in the lower margin 4 pages, first page printed in red and black with photographic portrait of Shackleton. 21 February 1910.
A souvenir from Shackleton's extensive fund-raising lecture tour following the British Antarctic Expedition of 1907-9, during which Shackleton reached 'Farthest South' and achieved the first ascent of Mount Erebus. The series of talks, accompanied by lantern slides, proved hugely popular with audiences. An account of a similar lecture in Edinburgh describes his charismatic style of delivery: "In the centre", he said, "you see the South Pole. Now you've seen as much as anybody else has ever seen". Hearty laughter greeted this opening, as he knew it would. He had an orator's gift for dramatic effect, and his humour was timed to perfection...' ('A born leader of men', article, RSGSexplorers.com).
A collection of six menus and one souvenir programme (various sizes and dates) concerning the Nimrod British Antarctic Expedition. Preserved in archival sleeves within a blue morocco-backed fold-over box with chemise.
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