BERNACCHI and BORCHGREVINK - JOE'S SLED-DOG COLLAR
Leather dog collar made for Louis Bernacchi's sled-dog 'Joe', who worked on Borchgrevink's Southern Cross expedition in 1899, and with Bernacchi on the Discovery expedition from 1901 until his death in 1902/1903, with brass studs and two brass name plates impressed 'Joe Southern Cross' and 'Joe Discovery'
Sold for
£8,750
inc. premium
Footnotes
- BERNACCHI'S TRUSTED HUSKY: an extremely rare survival of a sled-dog collar from two early Antarctic expeditions. Joe was born in the Antarctic on Borchgrevink's 1898 expedition and given by its leader to Bernacchi, who put him to work the following year. Bernacchi took Joe back to Australia with him in 1900, but they were soon on their way to Antarctica again when the naturalised Australian was engaged as Scott's physicist on the Discovery. Joe was one of the dogs that hauled sledges on the furthest South journey. Sadly, dog food ran short and as his strength failed on the return trip, he had to be put down on 8 January 1903. Bernacchi and Joe are commemorated in bronze statues on the waterfront in Hobart.
Provenance: Frank Plumley (1876-1971), stoker on the Discovery, Joe's groomer, and the last member of the expedition to die; thence by descent until sold at Sotheby's Billingshurst, 2-11 July 2001 (part of lot 1168).
Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts
Auction terms and conditions
Contacts
Customer Services (UK)
Bonhams
Work
WorkTel:
+44 20 7447 7447
FaxFax: +44 20 7447 7401
Customer Services
