Rare Antarctic Books from the Library of Richard Reaney

Following on from the success of the Important Paintings & Contemporary Art auction on April 4, the sale of Rare Antarctic Books from the Library of Richard Reaney on April 11 was one of Art+Object's most successful rare book and manuscript auctions to date. Art+Object is delighted to report an auction total of $354 000, with the highest price achieved $159 900 for Ernest H. Shackleton's first edition Aurora Australis which was a highlight during the auction viewing. Exceptional results were also achieved for the Diary of James Paton Boatswain S.Y. Aurora ($10 455), Ernest H. Shackleton's first edition three volume The Heart of the Antarctic from 1909 ($19 680) and an original unpresented Polar Medal - George V 1910 featuring four clasps from 1910-1917 representing various expeditions ($17 220). The auction was very well attended by local New Zealand collectors with spirited online bidding from collectors around the world.

Some of the preliminary highlights included:
6. Autograph Album - Terra Nova Expedition $1720
21. Apsley Cherry-Garrard - The Worst Journey in the World $5535
28. Discovery Expedition Aneroid Barometer $5045
31. Endurance Spar Two Fragments of Wood $2585
43. Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky $305
50. George Murray - The Antarctic Manual for Use of the Expedition of 1901 $1970
52. James Murray and George Marston - Antarctic Days $11 070
53. Thomas Musgrave - Castaways on the Auckland Isles $1785
55. Diary of James Paton Boatswain S.Y. Aurora $10 455
57. Frank Hurley - Album of Antarctic Photographs $11 070
58. Original Unpresented Polar Medal - George V 1910 $17 220
73. Ernest H. Shackleton - The Heart of the Antarctic $19 680
75. Ernest H. Shackleton - Aurora Australis $159 900
80. E.H. Shackleton, L.C. Bernacchi and A. Cherry-Gerrard - South Polar Times $17 220
83. Griffith Taylor - With Scott the Silver Lining $1475
89. Frank Wild - Shackleton's Last Voyage $1105
124. Lars Christenson - Such is the Antarctic $575
180. Alfred Lansing - Endurance $190
266. Frank Worsely - Endurance, An Epic of Polar Adventure $705

* All listed prices include buyer's premium and GST.