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DOUGLAS MAWSON: (1882 - 1958) British Antarctic explorer, a member of Shackleton's Nimrod expedit...

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DOUGLAS MAWSON: (1882 - 1958) British Antarctic explorer, a member of Shackleton's Nimrod expedit...
DOUGLAS MAWSON: (1882 - 1958) British Antarctic explorer, a member of Shackleton's Nimrod expedition, accompanied Edgeworth David's sledding expedition to locate the South Magnetic Pole, later led his own Aurora expedition. Excellent, rare archive of correspondence between Mawson and lecture agent JAMES B. POND, including three T.L.S.'s and one A.L.S. by Mawson with excellent content. This correspondence concerns Ponds' attempts to arrange an American lecture tour for Mawson during 1931-33. The three typed Mawson letters are on B.A.N.Z. Antarctic research Expedition letterhead, 6pp. 4to., Adelaide, July 8, 1931, Oct. 22, 1931 and Mar. 15, 1932. They read, in small part: "...I lectures I should give would be somewhat different from the film story...I have seen the Byrd picture...the Byrd expedition did not have the opportunity that we have had to obtain pictures of the unique life of at Antarctic...we have a long series of seal and bird pictures...filled out by sufficient views illustrating the gems in pack-ice and berg scenery throughout a sweep of one-third of the Antarctic regions. We have pictures of interesting life on the 'Discovery' and the sailing of the vessel...some views from the air...which have never before been filmed...we are preparing it as a 'talkie'...on account of the [financial] turmoil...I have not been able to get ahead as rapidly as I expected with the most urgent matters...I am engaged in writing a popular story of our work in the Antarctic on board the 'Discovery'...I should obviously need very substantial financial inducement to undertake this programme...the film and picture story is well ahead of anything of the kind...[Shackleton photographer Frank] Hurley has no further interest in the picture...It was I who actually chose him...for the 1911 Expedition...". Mawson's 1932 A.L.S. is 2pp. 4to. on University of Adelaide letterhead, in part: "...At last I am about to sail for Europe and expect to return to Australia via New York...I could give a short lecture [?] in U.S.A. so write to ascertain whether you are still interested...I am bringing a fine cinema film made up into a talkie...". Also included are retained copies of Ponds' correspondence, an A.L.S. by Lady Mawson, and related correspondence. Some paperclip stains at top margins, overall very good. $1,500-2,000