ULTIMA THULE” the History of Important Voyages and Expeditions in the Arctic Regions
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The Exhibition ”ULTIMA THULE” The History of Important Voyages and Expeditions in the Arctic Regions FOR SALE RARE MAPS, ATLASES AND BOOKS, VIEWS, PAINTINGS AND MANUSCRIPTS INCLUDING THE ARCTIC ICON MAP LÓITNANT JOHANSEN FRA 86°. 14.´ FROM 19 APRIL 2013 AT 6PM GAMLE LOGEN, GREV WEDELS PLASS 2, OSLO Detail of catalogue number 134 «But the spirit of mankind will never rest till every spot The manuscript map Lóitnant Johansen fra 86°. 14’ of these regions has been trodden by the foot of man, which accompanied Hjalmar Johansen and Fridtjof till every enigma has been solved.» Nansen on their sledge journey during the Fram Expedition (Fridtjof Nansen, Farthest North vol I, page 3) The Exhibition «ULTIMA THULE» The History of Important Voyages and Expeditions in the Arctic Regions FOR SALE RARE MAPS, VIEWS, ATLASES AND BOOKS, PAINTINGS AND MANUSCRIPTS INCLUDING THE POLAR ICON MAP LÓITNANT JOHANSEN FRA 86°. 14.´ The material will cover: The Explorations in the Barents Sea, The White Sea with Russia, and the North Pole area, mostly based on the historical search for a Northeast Passage. Topographical views from Northern Norway including rare «Lapponica». Decorative Maritime Art. THE OPENING RECEPTION IS 19 APRIL 2013 AT 6PM IN GAMLE LOGEN’S MAIN AUDITORIUM, GREV WEDELS PLASS 2, OSLO FROM SATURDAY APRIL 20 – SUNDAY MAY 5 2013 At the premises of Grev Wedels Plass Kunsthandel, Gamle Logen Monday – Friday 10 – 18, Saturday and Sunday 12 - 16 KUNSTANTIKVARIAT PAMA AS GREV WEDELS PLASS KUNSTHANDEL AS Tel. (+47) 22 44 06 00 Tel. (+47) 22 86 21 86 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.antiquemaps.no www.gwpa.no 4 www.antiquemaps.no INDEX FOREWORD FOREWORD ..............................................................................................................................................page 7 We have just finished a long winter. Those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere are looking forward to a prosperous spring with longer daylight hours and warmer days. Is this the right time to present a catalogue and exhibition of the A SHORT ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN «ULTIMA THULE» .......................................................................page 8 Arctic Regions and the Ultima Thule? SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL VOYAGES AND EXPEDITIONS TO THE ARCTIC I choose to say it is perfect timing for a project like this. Certainly is the Polar Regions are known for the cold, dark nights REGIONS AND THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE IN RELEVANCE TO THE and days and lot of ice and icebergs too, but we should not forget the fact that during the summer the sun never settles that CATALOGUE «ULTIMA THULE» ......................................................................................................page 9 far north. Over a short period of time life and nature in the region are going through rapid changes. We are able to observe ELISABETH ISAKSSON «ARCTIC CLIMATE – CAN THE PAST PREDICT a spectacular environment unlike most other places in the world. The serious climate changes in the Arctic are one of the main topics in today’s international debates and discussions. THE FUTURE?» .................................................................................................................................page 10 RARE AND IMPORTANT BOOKS RELATED TO THE NORTH ........................................................page 17 The early expeditions and explorers had to utilize the short summer in their attempt to conquer the Arctic Regions. But travelling was not easy and it took a long time before modern technology was available. Some of the pioneers were RARE AND IMPORTANT MAPS OF THE ARCTIC AND THE NORTHERN REGION forced to spend the winter in the Arctic. Perhaps the winter camp was a part of the plan, or it was unexpected to remain 1482 – 1959 INCLUDING THE LARGE-SIZE MANUSCRIPT POLAR MAP FORMERLY up in the frozen world during a long and unmerciful winter. Fridtjof Nansen is an example of the first, Willem Barents IN THE COLLECTION OF R S G S – EDINBURGH ......................................................................page 41 of the second. Nansen survived, Barents unfortunately did not. These two world famous super-star explorers are the centre of this exhibition. The idea of a big Polar project was born almost 18 months ago when I was contacted by the FRIDTJOF NANSEN & ROALD AMUNDSEN INCLUDING THE POLAR descendent of the original owner of the manuscript map which accompanied Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen on ICON MAP LÓITNANT JOHANSEN 86°. 14.´ ................................................................................ page 117 the sledge journey towards the North Pole. To be in closer touch with the Polar and the Pioneer atmosphere is probably unachievable. KIRA MOSS «DRIFTING TOWARDS THE POLE»........................................................................... page 118 The name of the exhibition and the catalogue, «Ultima Thule» is inspired by the title of one of several impressive A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF PLATE AND COLOUR PLATE BOOKS OF LAPLAND ................page 138 cartography and travel books published by the Nurminen Foundation in Helsinki (this book published in 2001). I was ANN FALAHAT «FROM DOCUMENTATION TO FASCINATION» ................................................page 139 given the opportunity to meet Juha Nurminen and his qualified staff a couple of years ago. How they combine maps and map collecting of the Arctic regions with their invaluable support to the improvement of the environment of the Baltic is TOPOGRAPHICAL VIEWS AND COSTUME PLATES RELATED TO NORWAY an example to follow. As the quote says on page 51 in the catalogue «Northward Bound – At the Far edge of the World» AND LAPLAND .............................................................................................................................page 156 Nordkappmuseet 2010: «Old maps are a gateway into a vast emotional, cultural, intellectual and historic universe». DECORATIVE MARITIME ART ..........................................................................................................page 177 We hope to see you at the opening reception in Gamle Logen, Store Sal and the next two weeks in the rooms of Grev Wedels Plass Kunsthandel. TERMS AND EXPLANATIONS Pål Sagen All items have been carefully described and are guaranteed to be genuine and authentic. The prices are in NOK (Norwegian kroner) all taxes included. As an indication only, the items are also priced in EURO after an approximate exchange rate of 1€ = NOK 7,50. Contemporary hand-coloured: In our opinion, the colouring is approximately contemporary with the date of issue. Hand-coloured: In our opinion, the colouring or parts of the colouring originates from a later period than the date of issue. The expression “state” in English = In Norwegian: “De forskjellige stadier i bearbeidelsen av en kobberplate, treblokk eller litografisk sten“. All sales of art are subject to the Artist resale law of 5% PLEASE NOTE: THE CATALOGUE IS PUBLISHED SOME DAYS BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION. IT IS THEREFORE POSSIBLE TO MAKE ORDERS FROM Bygdøy Allé 10, 0262 OSLO, Norway • Tlf: (+ 47) 22 44 06 00 • Fax: (+47) 22 44 06 01 E-mail: [email protected] • Internet: www.antiquemaps.no THE CATALOGUE BEFORE FRIDAY APRIL, 19th, 2013 Specialist in antique maps and prints, topographical views, illustrated books and Norwegian 19th Century paintings. 6 www.antiquemaps.no Kunstantikvariat PAMA 7 A SHORT ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN «ULTIMA THULE» SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL VOYAGES AND EXPEDITIONS TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS AND THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE WITH RELEVANCE TO THE CATALOGUE «ULTIMA THULE» The Ancient Time – c. 330 BC: Pytheas of Massilia travelled in western and northern Europe and it is likely that he visited England, Ireland and northern Germany and a country that he called Thule. 1496: Gregory Istoma together with «gesandten» David from the King of Denmark sailed from the White Sea to Trondheim exploring the Murmansk Coast and Northern Norway 1553: Richard Chancellor’s English expeditions searching for the Northeast Passage 1594 – 97: Willem Barents’ three voyages to the Arctic searching for the Northeast Passage 1607: Henry Hudson’s voyage and the exploration of Spitsbergen 1610: The English explorer Jonas Poole sailing along the west coast of Spitsbergen initiating the English whaling trade in the Arctic Around 1613: Several English, French, Spanish and Dutch whaling expeditions to Spitsbergen 1614: Dutch and French expeditions discover Jan Mayen 1707: The Dutch explorer Cornelis Giles and his voyage to East Spitsbergen 1733 – 43: Great Northern Expedition. The second Kamchatka expedition from Ob River to Lena River 1827: First Norwegian Arctic expedition, led by B.M. Keilhau 1838 – 40: «La Recherche». French expeditions to Scandinavia and the Arctic regions 1838 – 40 lead by Doctor Paul Gaimard 1845: Sir John Franklin, and his lost expedition in the search for the Northwest Passage We are grateful for being allowed to use the following text taken from, «Northward Bound at the Far Edge of the World», Benedicte Gamborg Briså. Finnmark 2010: 1872 – 74: Austria – Hungarian North Pole Expedition Thule is an island mentioned in Pytheas of Massilia’s now lost travel account entitled «On the Ocean» from c. 330 BC. 1878 – 79: Adolf Erik Nordensköld: «Vega» and the Swedish expedition Pytheas travelled in western and northern Europe and it is likely that he visited England, Ireland and northern Germany and a country that he called Thule. It is not known for sure exactly where the Thule that Pytheas described is located,