Item #122909 'The Nugget Penguin Rookery'. Australasian Antarctic Expedition, Frank HURLEY.
'The Nugget Penguin Rookery'
[Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914]. HURLEY, Frank

'The Nugget Penguin Rookery'

A very large black and white gelatin silver photograph (409 × 555 mm, flush-cut on the original thick card mount), recently matted (visible image size 395 × 537 mm) using archival materials, ready for framing (or long-term storage in its custom-made Mylar sleeve).

Minimal expert conservation to three tiny surface blemishes; in excellent condition.

A striking view showing two unidentified expeditioners among the royal penguins at the colony on Nuggets Beach, Macquarie Island.

This vintage print comes from the original 1915 Australian exhibition of Hurley photographs; this was a slightly larger 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 11 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: Ainslie Roberts AM (1911-1993, surrealist painter, illustrator and photographer; president of the Adelaide Camera Club, 1944-45, and life member from 1945); by descent.

Item #122909

Price (AUD): $9,000.00

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