Item #114979 'An Ice Capped Islet'. Australasian Antarctic Expedition, Frank HURLEY.

'An Ice Capped Islet'

A very large vintage blue-toned carbon print (587 × 753 mm), flush-cut on the original thick card mount, recently mounted and matted using archival materials. The visible image size is 530 × 720 mm, with the mat now masking moderate to heavy tanning around all edges (caused by an earlier acidic mat); overall in excellent condition.

This print comes from the original 1915 Australian exhibition of Hurley photographs; this was a slightly enlarged version of the London exhibition held earlier in the same year. The label of the Fine Art Society, New Bond Street, London is on the verso of this print, with the title (as above) and the catalogue reference number 68 added in ink.

The full title of the Australian exhibition catalogue is 'Exhibition of Unique Photographic Pictures taken during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Also other Photographic Studies by Frank Hurley' (small octavo, 16 pages plus 8 full-page plates and the title-wrappers; printed in Adelaide by G. Hassell & Son). A small advertisement appeared in the Adelaide 'Advertiser' on Saturday 25 September 1915, announcing a 'South Polar Exhibit.... until October 6. This Exhibition is your only opportunity of viewing Historical Relics of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, and Frank Hurley's Unexcelled Photographic Reproductions'.

Provenance: Sir Douglas Mawson (with the Mawson Estate stamp on the verso); by descent.

Item #114979

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