This wonderful image of an Ourang Outan or Pongo is from a volume in the Scientific Expedition Reports transferred to Special Collections from the Science Library in 2013. HMS Samarang left England in February 1843 to make a ‘survey of the various coasts and islands in the Eastern Seas’ (Arthur Adams, preface to Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Samarang). The expedition party travelled to Borneo, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Japan, Mauritius and many places in between. Published in 1850, this volume contains many beautiful coloured plates of the animals observed in these spots.
Norwegian Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha, 1937-38 - From December, 1937 to March, 1938 a Norwegian party made the first ever scientific expedition to Tristan da Cunha, a remote group of islands in the Atlantic between South America and South Africa. During their stay, the expeditionary party carried out observations and made recordings of the topography of the island, its people and how they lived and worked and the flora and fauna that inhabited the island.
Sydney: Trustees of the Australian Museum; R. Etheridge, Jnr.
Abstract
The Trawling Expedition of HMCS Thetis, 1898 - In February and March of 1898, Her Majesty’s Colonial Steamer Thetis trawled the sea off the coast of New South Wales. Politician and advocate of the emerging Australian fishing industries, Mr Frank Farnell (1868-1928) was director of the expedition, which was financed by the Colonial Government of Australia. Edgar Ravenswood Waite (1866-1928), the zoologist aboard Thetis, wrote that ‘the expedition was conducted purely in the interests of fishing industries’ (Introduction, volume 1) and not from a traditional scientific point of view. In 1906, Edgar Waite became curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch and he also accompanied Sir Douglas Mawson on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14.
Sydney: Trustees of the Australian Museum; R. Etheridge, Jnr.
Abstract
The Trawling Expedition of HMCS Thetis, 1898 - In February and March of 1898, Her Majesty’s Colonial Steamer Thetis trawled the sea off the coast of New South Wales. Politician and advocate of the emerging Australian fishing industries, Mr Frank Farnell (1868-1928) was director of the expedition, which was financed by the Colonial Government of Australia. Edgar Ravenswood Waite (1866-1928), the zoologist aboard Thetis, wrote that ‘the expedition was conducted purely in the interests of fishing industries’ (Introduction, volume 1) and not from a traditional scientific point of view. In 1906, Edgar Waite became curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch and he also accompanied Sir Douglas Mawson on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14.
The Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition, 1947-48 - In July, 1947 the Albatross left Gothenburg, Sweden for a 15-month, privately funded voyage with oceanographer and leader of the expedition, Hans Pettersson and his scientific team aboard. The aim of the expedition was to explore the depths of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans near the equator. The team retrieved core-samples from the bottom of the ocean, took water samples, made temperature recordings, carried out deep-sea trawlings, and made echograms of the ocean floor. The Albatross and its crew covered 45,000 nautical miles and took core samples from depths of almost 8000 metres.
Stockholm: Lithographische institut des generalstabs…
Abstract
Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901-03 - The Swedish Antarctic expeditionary party, led by Swedish geologist Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), left Gothenburg aboard the aptly named Antarctic on October 16th, 1901, with Norwegian Captain Carl Anton Larsen (1860-1924) at the helm. On the journey south to Antarctica the crew picked up Argentinian naval officer José Sobral who joined the expedition in exchange for help from the Argentinian government. In the winter of 1902 a group of six scientists, which included Nordenskjöld, set up camp on Snow Hill Island off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship, Antarctic, and the remaining crew travelled north intending to spend the winter exploring. The Snow Hill Island group spent the winter making scientific observations. After the icepack failed to open up in the summer of 1903 to allow the Antarctic’s return to pick them up, they realised they would have to spend another winter on the ice and subsequently bagged 400 penguins and 30 seals for their winter food and fuel supplies. During this time the Antarctic, on its trip north, had become stuck in the sea ice and the remaining crew abandoned the sinking ship and trekked, along with the ship’s cat, to Paulet Island (at the north-eastern end of the Antarctic Peninsula). There they built a stone hut and killed over a thousand penguins to supplement their winter food supplies taken from the ship. Eventually both parties were rescued by the Argentinian boat Uruguay in November, 1903.
Stockholm: Lithographische institut des generalstabs…
Abstract
Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901-03 - The Swedish Antarctic expeditionary party, led by Swedish geologist Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), left Gothenburg aboard the aptly named Antarctic on October 16th, 1901, with Norwegian Captain Carl Anton Larsen (1860-1924) at the helm. On the journey south to Antarctica the crew picked up Argentinian naval officer José Sobral who joined the expedition in exchange for help from the Argentinian government. In the winter of 1902 a group of six scientists, which included Nordenskjöld, set up camp on Snow Hill Island off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship, Antarctic, and the remaining crew travelled north intending to spend the winter exploring. The Snow Hill Island group spent the winter making scientific observations. After the icepack failed to open up in the summer of 1903 to allow the Antarctic’s return to pick them up, they realised they would have to spend another winter on the ice and subsequently bagged 400 penguins and 30 seals for their winter food and fuel supplies. During this time the Antarctic, on its trip north, had become stuck in the sea ice and the remaining crew abandoned the sinking ship and trekked, along with the ship’s cat, to Paulet Island (at the north-eastern end of the Antarctic Peninsula). There they built a stone hut and killed over a thousand penguins to supplement their winter food supplies taken from the ship. Eventually both parties were rescued by the Argentinian boat Uruguay in November, 1903.
]]>https://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/8291Pagodroma (Petrel); Eggs of Pygoscelis (Penguin)]]>2022-08-19T16:24:01+12:00
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Eggs of Pagodroma (Petrel); Eggs of Pygoscelis (Penguin)
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
Under the captaincy of George Strong Nares and from 1874, Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, HMS Challenger sailed from Portsmouth on 21st December, 1872. Challenger, a steam corvette, had been refitted to include zoological and chemical laboratories and photographic and naturalist history workrooms. Led by University of Edinburgh Professor, Sir Charles Wyville Thomson, this scientific expedition made a trip of around 70,000 nautical miles over three years. Stopping at islands in the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific Oceans and visiting the West Indies, India, Australia and New Zealand, the expeditionary party made observations and recorded data on a wide range of topics such as ocean temperatures, currents and tides; chemistry, biology, botany and zoology.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Leptonychotes weddelli[i] - Weddell Seal
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Mr NIcolai Hanson, with Ross's Seal
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Pygoscelis adeliae - Adélie Penguin
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Pygoscelis adeliae - Adélie Penguin
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
]]>https://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/8285Ommatophoca rossi[i] - Ross seal]]>2022-08-19T16:24:01+12:00
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Ommatophoca rossi[i] - Ross seal
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
]]>https://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/8284Megalestris [Stercorarius]maccormicki - South Polar skua]]>2022-08-19T16:24:01+12:00
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Megalestris [Stercorarius]maccormicki - South Polar skua
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Lobodon carcinophagus - Crabeater Seal
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Captive Emperor Penguin on board the 'Southern Cross'
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
London: Printed by Order of the Trustees [British Museum]
Description
Ogmorhinus leptonyx - Leopard seal
Abstract
The Voyage of the Southern Cross, 1898-1900; (also known as British Antarctic Expedition) - Privately-funded by Sir George Newnes, a British publishing magnate, and led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1934), Southern Cross sailed for Antarctica on 22nd August, 1898. It was an expedition of ‘firsts’: the first to use dogs on the ice; the first to erect buildings on the frozen continent; the first expedition party to ‘overwinter’ on the continental mainland; and unfortunately (after the death, supposedly from intestinal problems, of Norwegian zoologist Nicolai Hanson (1870-99)), the first to bury a body on Antarctica. On its return to England in June of 1900, despite its ‘ground-breaking achievements in Antarctic survival and travel’ and a number of ‘firsts’, the Southern Cross expedition did not receive the same accolades as subsequent British Antarctic expeditions in 1901-04, 1907-09 and 1910-13. Physicist and astronomer of the expedition, Louis Charles Bernacchi (1876-1942) wrote an account of his time aboard Southern Cross and subsequently joined as physicist Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901-04.
The University of Canterbury Snares Islands Expeditions (from 1961) - These reports are a collection of publications (from 1961 to 1984) which expound the University of Canterbury’s expeditions to the Snares Islands, a small archipelago located south of Stewart Island. The University of Canterbury set up a Biological Station on the main island called North East Island in 1961 for the observation and study of the flora, fauna, geology and climate in and around the Snares Islands group. The island group is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Sino-Swedish Expedition, 1927-35 - Dr Sven Hedin (1865-1952) spent almost 20 years in Asia travelling, exploring and researching. In 1927, Hedin led a series of expeditions through Mongolia, Xinjiang and the Gobi Desert. The trips were funded by the German government in alliance with the German airline, Lufthansa and a variety of scientists and researchers from Sweden, Germany and China took part. The main aim of the expeditions was geological but also included archaeological, meteorological and topographical research. In 1930, Swedish archaeologist Folke Bergman (1902-46) excavated several thousand wooden slips (‘inscribed strips of wood or bamboo’) from the Han dynasty (100 BC – 100 AD) at a site in Inner Mongolia.
The Sino-Swedish Expedition, 1927-35 - Dr Sven Hedin (1865-1952) spent almost 20 years in Asia travelling, exploring and researching. In 1927, Hedin led a series of expeditions through Mongolia, Xinjiang and the Gobi Desert. The trips were funded by the German government in alliance with the German airline, Lufthansa and a variety of scientists and researchers from Sweden, Germany and China took part. The main aim of the expeditions was geological but also included archaeological, meteorological and topographical research. In 1930, Swedish archaeologist Folke Bergman (1902-46) excavated several thousand wooden slips (‘inscribed strips of wood or bamboo’) from the Han dynasty (100 BC – 100 AD) at a site in Inner Mongolia.
Edinburgh: The Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory
Abstract
Almost entirely privately funded by James and Andrew Coats, from a wealthy Scottish family, the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (SNAE) was considered to be a very successful expedition despite being overshadowed by Robert Falcon Scott’s 1901-04 Antarctic expedition aboard Discovery. The SNAE was led by experienced polar scientist and explorer, William Spiers Bruce and the expedition party left Scotland aboard the Scotia on November 2nd, 1902. During their research time in Antarctica a meteorological base was set up and became a permanent feature of the Antarctic landscape. Administered by the Argentinians and named Orcadas Base, the weather station has been in continuous operation since its inception and it is thought that the scientific research carried out during the expedition ‘laid the foundation of modern climate change studies’ (Wikipedia).
Edinburgh: The Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory
Abstract
Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902-04 - Almost entirely privately funded by James and Andrew Coats, from a wealthy Scottish family, the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (SNAE) was considered to be a very successful expedition despite being overshadowed by Robert Falcon Scott’s 1901-04 Antarctic expedition aboard Discovery. The SNAE was led by experienced polar scientist and explorer, William Spiers Bruce and the expedition party left Scotland aboard the Scotia on November 2nd, 1902. During their research time in Antarctica a meteorological base was set up and became a permanent feature of the Antarctic landscape. Administered by the Argentinians and named Orcadas Base, the weather station has been in continuous operation since its inception and it is thought that the scientific research carried out during the expedition ‘laid the foundation of modern climate change studies’ (Wikipedia).
Under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher (1799-1877), the HMS Samarang left England in February 1843 to make a ‘survey of the various coasts and islands in the Eastern Seas’ (Arthur Adams, preface to Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Samarang). The expedition party travelled to Borneo, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Japan, Mauritius and many places in between. Captain Belcher was born in Nova Scotia and joined the British Navy aged 13 years. He travelled extensively on the world’s oceans throughout his career and wrote his Narrative of the Voyage of HMS ‘Samarang’, which was published in 1848. Although Belcher had a reputation for being difficult to get along with, he reached the rank of Admiral in the British Navy.
Under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher (1799-1877), the HMS Samarang left England in February 1843 to make a ‘survey of the various coasts and islands in the Eastern Seas’ (Arthur Adams, preface to Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Samarang). The expedition party travelled to Borneo, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Japan, Mauritius and many places in between. Captain Belcher was born in Nova Scotia and joined the British Navy aged 13 years. He travelled extensively on the world’s oceans throughout his career and wrote his Narrative of the Voyage of HMS ‘Samarang’, which was published in 1848. Although Belcher had a reputation for being difficult to get along with, he reached the rank of Admiral in the British Navy.