AURORA AUSTRALIS


Inscriptions & Signatures appearing in copies of the Aurora


Launched: 30 November 2018.         Last updated: 1 January 2019


Introduction

With respect to inscriptions & Signatures, copies of the Aurora appear in one of four formats:
1) with dated inscriptions,
2) with undated inscriptions,
3) with signatures,
4) and with no inscriptions or signatures at all.

The copies with dated inscriptions, mostly by Shackleton, Marston, Wild, Joyce or Priestley total, at the moment, 21. These span the dates of July 1909 to July of 1917.

The copies with undated inscriptions or signatures only, mostly by Shackleton, Marston, Wild, Joyce or Priestley total, at the moment, 33. In some instances there are dates but not from the period of original distribution.

The copies with no inscriptions or signatures total, at the moment, 41. In some instances there are dates but not from the period of original distribution.

The copies for which it is not known whether inscriptions or signatures appear total, at the moment, 49. In some instances there are dates but not from the period of original distribution.

This is all presented in the table below.

The totals taken together exceed the number of known copies because many copies have transferred ownership but have still been counted.

Total known copies with dated inscriptions from Shackleton, Marston, Wild or Priestley = 21
Range of dates: 7/1907 - 7/1917. Ten Years
Shackleton returned to England on June 12, 1909. Number of dated inscriptions prior to this date: 0
Endurance expedition was away from England: Sailed from Plymouth 8 August 1914. Shackleton returned to England in May 1917.


1 AURORA AUSTRALIS - Inscriptions & Signatures with dates (1909-1917)    
   
  Copy No Owner / Name Inscription/Signature
1 7 Morgan Library Letter with copy has date: 25th July 1911.
2 12/280 Dulwich College. Kipling copy Inscribed in ink on copyright leaf: "To Rudyard Kipling with | Ernest Shackleton's regards. | 1911 |Frank Wild | 8/6/14"
3 15/282 National Maritime Museum. Dawson-Lambton copy. To Miss Dawson-Lambton | from the Editor and | printers with Best | wishes for the coming | year; and remembrance | of all her kindness and | help. Dec 25th. 1909.
4 16 National Maritime Museum. Elspeth Invernairn copy. To Elspeth from | Ernest. Nov 1907. | The Editor." [Almost certainly the 7 is actually a 9.]
5 24 State Library of Tasmania To Captain Davis from the Artist | and printers - Kia Ora | Ernest E. M. Joyce | Nov. 3rd 09
6 29/289 Canterbury Museum. Nuttall copy.  To Henry Nuttall with kindest wishes from the editor E. H. Shackleton in remembrance of the practical help to our scientific results and the always sympathetic attitude towards the expedition. August 1911. This book was made in the Antarctic. E. H. Shackleton"
7 40/127/273 Turnbull Library. Truscott copy. To G. Wyatt Truscott | from the Editor | E H Shackleton | 1909 [This date has been added later in pencil and is not part of the original presentation inscription.]
8 44 State Library of Victoria. Mackellar copy. To Campbell Mackellar of Lerags[?] from the members of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 as a remembrance of his unceasing interest, great generosity, and personal friendship to all. Ernest Shackleton, Editor, Christmas 1910
9 45 Sissinghurst copy. Carnock copy. Nicolson copy. To Sir Arthur and Lady Nicolson from the editor E H Shackleton Jan 1910.
10 108/157/290 Taaffe copy. Belle Donaldson copy. Skellerup copy. To Belle Donaldson | from E.H. Shackleton | Xmas 1910.
11 115/275/304 Hill copy. Manney copy. West Coast copy. With Best Wishes to Mr. & Mrs. Hill from the printer Ernest E. Joyce August 19th, 1911
12 116/165? Antipodean copy. Barraclough copy.  Letter attached to recto of first leaf is dated "14th Oct 1912." The 12 could possibly be an 11 though unlikely.
13 126/274 Simper copy. Lysaght copy To Mrs Lysaght from | the Editor E H Shackleton | with best wishes | Feb. 1910
14 127 Cotton copy. There is a presentation inscription on a separate leaf bound in immediately following the front free end-paper: Raymond E Priestley | Geologist, 1907-09 British Antarctic Exped. | 15/10/09. | to his friend | Leo A Cotton with | best wishes | Feb 9, 1910.
15 134/266 Stancomb-Wills copy. Presentation to Janet Stancomb-Wills on the recto of the first blank: "To my friend | Miss Janet Stancomb-Wills | this relic of another Expedition | is presented by the Editor | Ernest Shackleton | July 1917."
16 135/269 Lady Grey copy. To Lady Grey from the Editor, E.H. Shackleton, June 1910
17 136/270 Cooper copy. Wild copy. Holmes copy. Keynes copy. Presented to Mr Chars Cooper | by one of the Printers. | Ernest E. Joyce | May 12th 1910
18 162?/200 Walcot copy. Bluntisham copy. With the Editor's kindest | regards: | Ernest Shackleton | This Book was made | Bound; Printed, Published | in the Antarctic in | 1908
19 258 Shaughnessy copy. To Sir Thomas Shaughnessy | with best wishes from | the Editor | E.H. Shackleton. | June 1910
20 265 Murchison copy. To Roderick Murchison | in remembrance of his | practical interest in the | Australasian Antarctic Expedition | from the Editor | E.H. Shackleton | 1911
21 260/297 Perris copy. To Ernest Perris | from Ernest Shackleton | To one Editor of one million | five hundred thousand copies | per week. | From the Editor of ninety | copies per year. | With warmest wishes | for his birthday. | 15 Feb. 1914.
   
   
2 AURORA AUSTRALIS - Inscriptions & Signatures without original/early dates (1909-1917)
   
  Copy No Owner/Name Inscription/Signature
1 2 Columbia University. Bassett Jones copy. Contains the signatures of the editor and illustrator "Ernest H. Shackleton | George Marston" on recto of second blank leaf.
2 3 Dartmouth College. Stefansson copy. The signatures 'Ernest H. Shackleton | George Marston | R E Priestley' appear in ink on the recto of first leaf following the title page. To the right of MESSMAN, on the concluding page of 'Trials of a Messman' is the signature in ink: 'R E Priestley'.
3 5 Huntington Library. Edith Shackleton copy. "Purchased in April, 1925 from Miss Edith | Shackleton, and on June 8, 1925 is | presented to Henry E. Huntington with | the warm regards of | A.S.W. Rosenbach"
4 13 Dundee Heritage Trust. Joel copy. On the recto of the first leaf: To Mrs. J. B. Joel | with kindest regards | from the Editor | Ernest Shackleton
5 14 National Library of Scotland Signed by Shackleton and Marston on the blank leaf following the title page. The form of the signatures are: Ernest H. Shackleton | George Marston.The form of the signatures are: Ernest H. Shackleton | George Marston.
6 18 Scott Polar Research Institute. Emily Shackleton copy. Mill copy. Inscribed in ink on first (uncolored) title page within the cartouche: To Hugh Robert Mill. | In memory of his friend | Ernest H. Shackleton | and of the years 1901-1922 | from Emily Shackleton. | Dec: 7th 1922.
7 19 Bodleian Library. Ehrman copy. "Bears the signatures of Sir Ernest Shackleton and George Marston." (Source: Letter from Paul Morgan, Senior Assistant Librarian, Bodleian Library, to John Millard, 8 April 1982.) The signatures are on the recto of the first blank sheet.
8 25 Museum Victoria. Eager copy. Ramsay copy. "Ernest H. Shackleton | George Marston" in upper center of recto of blank leaf following copyright page and preceding the dedication page.
9 26 State Library of South Australia. Symon copy. Signatures in ink of Ernest H. Shackleton and, beneath, George Marston, "on second fly leaf" [this is interpreted as the recto of the second blank leaf].
10 32/250 British Library. Streeter copy. "Ernest Shackleton, Editor" on recto of first blank.
11 34/168 Newberry Library. Marshall copy. Kendall copy. Fitzgerald copy. On first blank page, recto: In middle of page, in three different inks, signatures of "Ernest Shackleton | George Marston | Eric S. Marshall | "Lapsus Linguae" On second blank page, recto: Top center, in blue ink: "E. J. C. Kendall | September 1951 | given by Dr. E. S. Marshall" 
12 35 Eton College. Eckstein copy. "Ernest Shackleton | Editor" on first blank recto.
13 38/318 Scott Polar Research Institute. Dunlop dummy copy. Signed in pencil H J L Dunlop on inner front cover above the stencilling.
14 39/317 Scott Polar Research Institute. Dunlop giant tick copy. Signed in ink on the recto of the first leaf which is otherwise blank. The hand is somewhat copperplate. H J L Dunlop on first page.
15 100/306 Seattle copy. Lascaux copy. "Inscribed by Shackleton". "front free endpaper inscibed by the editor, with a four line stanza from the poem 'The Antarctic' by Robert Service, and an additional note initialled EHS 'The only printed book ever produced in the South Polar regions'"
16 104/166/271/308 Levinson copy. Buckley copy "To Mr & Mrs George Buckley | as a remembrance of the | practical help and enduring | sympathy to our little Expedition | from the Publishers, Editor | Artist & printers. | E. H. Shackleton. | Frank Wild | George Marston. | Ernest E. M. Joyce | Bernard C. Day."
17 105/314 Santa Monica copy. Sheaf copy. Baume copy. "Signed 'Ernest H Shackleton | George Marston' on the recto of a blank leaf situated between the publication and dedication leaves."
18 111 Harrison/Metz copy. Walcot copy. Signed by Shackleton and Marston
19 117/163/252 Private Collection Scotland. Wordie copy. Front and end paper autographed by E.H. Shackleton, Bernard Day, George Edward Marston, James Murray, A. Forbes Mackay and Frank Wild.
20 123 Private Collection New Zealand. White copy. Reaney copy. Yes, recto of second blank leaf. "To | F.W. White Esq. with best wishes from the printers [signed]Ernest Joyce [an initial which could possibly be Joyce's.] Kia Oro" There is a loose leaf page inside front blank page with inscription: With the Comp.s and Kind regards of Monkshood."
21 129/254/264 Stewart copy #1. Zust copy. Renard copy. Since sold. Signed in ink by Shackleton and Marston on blank leaf following title page.
22 132 Maggs copy. Since sold. Signed on the inner board (see image) by H. Ponting, John Runnstrom, Hardland D. Wood, and Harmes Alpen (from Magg's listing). Ponting had no association with Shackleton and the 'P' appears more like a 'R'. Nothing can be found about the others who signed.
23 253 Bob Finch 1982. "On the recto of the first blank this copy has been signed by Shackleton, Bernard Day, George Edward Marston, James Murray, A. Forbes Mackay, and Frank Wild."
24 257 Bob Finch 1996. Priester copy. "signed on a front blank 'Ernest H. Shackleton George Marston'".
25 262 Christies 2001. Emily Shackleton copy. E.M.S. (In pencil at top, right of center, on recto of first leaf)
26 263 Christies 2001. Cecily Shackleton copy. Cecily Shackleton (In pencil in upper right corner of the title page)
27 272 Bonhams 2007. Eames copy. "To our old Pal Tom Eames | Wishing him the best of | luck. From the Printers | Ernest E. Joyce" and further inscribed below by Frank Wild.
28 276 Sothebys 1995. Laurence Wild copy. Fright copy. "To my grandson Nicholas J. Fright on his 21st. Birthday 31 December 1970. To keep in memory of his great-uncle Frank Wild, who made this book in the Antarctic. With best wishes, Laurence C. Wild." "front end-leaf inscribed"
29 279 Sothebys 1922. Hope copy. "signed, in the handwriting of the Editor"
30 281 Sothebys 1949. Maggs copy. "signed by E. H. Shackleton"
31 301 Christies 1977. Quaritch copy. Signed by Shackleton and Marston.
32 306 Christies 1991. Lascaux copy, "Inscribed by Shackleton."
33 320 Hindman 2018. Fossett copy. Ernest Shackleton | Editor [on recto of first blank leaf]
   
   
3 AURORA AUSTRALIS - No Inscriptions or Signatures  
   
  Copy No Owner/Name  
1 1 John Carter Brown Library. Swan copy.  
2 4 Harvard University. Frost copy.  
3 6 Library of Congress  
4 8 New York Public Library. Spencer copy.  
5 9/169 UCLA. Goodwin copy.   
6 10 University of Chicago  
7 11 Christ's College, Cambridge. Priestley copy.  
8 17 Royal Collections Windsor Castle  
9 20 Australian Antarctic Division. Davis copy.  
10 21 National Library of Australia. Kivell copy.  
11 22 State Library of N.S.W. Dixson Library  
12 23 State Library of N.S.W. Mitchell Library  
13 27 University of Adelaide. Mawson copy.  
14 28 University of New England. Taylor copy. Davis copy.  
15 30 Turnbull Library. Kinsey copy.  
16 31 Turnbull Library. Turnbull copy.  
17 33 National Library of Australia. White copy.  
18 36 Scott Polar Research Institute. Priestley copy.  
19 37 South Australian Museum. Mawson copy.  
20 41/268/303/312 Kislak Foundation. Maylin copy. Bernacchi copy.  
21 42 Oates Collection  
22 43/206 Royal Geographical Society  
23 102/259/288 Crawford copy. Starr copy. Miss Wild copy. Holmes copy.  
24 103/133/255 Renard 1994. Greene copy. Now Bay Area collector.  
25 107/251 F. Edwards 1978. Stephenson copy.  
26 109/261/286/311 Taurus copy. Dropmore copy.  
27 110/309 Ernest Joyce copy. Krementz copy.  
28 112/315 Brooke-Hitching copy.  
29 113 Private Collection Devon  
30 116/165? Antipodean Books  
31 122/267/302/319 Fitzsimmons copy. Porter copy. West Virginia copy.  
32 124/201 Brocklehurst copy.  
33 128 Chrisant copy. Bogoievski copy.  
34 130 Aeneas Mackintosh copy. Dowler copy.  
35 131 Murray copy. Mather copy.  
36 137/316 Sothebys 2016  
37 256 Christies 1996  
38 261/109? Bloomsbury 2000  
39 287/310 Sothebys 1969. Blackwell copy.  
40 307 Sothebys 1912. Johnston copy.  
41 310/287 Blackwells 1971  
   
   
4 AURORA AUSTRALIS -Presence of Inscriptions & Signatures unknown  
   
  Copy No Owner/Name  
1 101 Campbell copy.  
2 106 Lord Shackleton copy.  
3 114 Private Collection Norfolk UK  
4 119 Private Collection Perth #1  
5 120 Private Collection Perth #2  
6 121 Private Collection New Mexico  
7 125 Private Collection San Rafael CA  
8 137 Sotheby's 2016  
9 150 Argentina Private Collection #1  
10 151 Australia Private Collection #1 NSW  
11 152 Australia Private Collection #2 NSW  
12 153 Australia Private Collection #3 NSW  
13 154 Australia Private Collection #4 Victoria  
14 155 Australia Private Collection #5 Victoria  
15 156 France Private Collection #1  
16 157 NZ Private Collection #1 nr Christchurch  
17 158 NZ Private Collection #2 nr Lower Hutt  
18 159 NZ Private Collection #2 nr Wellington  
19 160 UK Private Collection #1 Oxford  
20 161 UK Private Collection #2 London  
21 162?/200 UK Private Collection #3 Sutton Coldfield  
22 163 UK Private Collection #4 Scotland  
23 164 UK Private Collection #5 Middlesex  
24 165 UK Private Collection #6 Herefordshire  
25 166 UK Private Collection #7  
26 167 UK Private Collection #8 London  
27 202 Herbert Dyce Murphy copy.  
28 203 Hocken Library  
29 204 Clare Lodge  
30 207 Edgeworth David copy.  
31 209 Sir John Smith copy.  
32 210 Kucharek copy.  
33 277 Christies. Frank Wild copy. Frost copy.  
34 278 Sothebys 1913  
35 283 Sothebys 1953  
36 284 Sothebys 1957  
37 285 Sothebys 1967  
38 291 Sothebys 1986  
39 292 Hodgson & Co. 1912  
40 293 Sothebys 1928  
41 294 Sothebys 1975  
42 295 Christies 1986  
43 296 Sothebys 1978  
44 298 Puttick & Simpson 1912  
45 299 Phillips 1969  
46 300 Christies, Sydney 1979  
47 305 Renard 1988  
48 307 Sothebys 1912  
49 312 Sothebys 1912  

HOME