Description:

Robert Peary
various, ca. 1893-1912
Robert Peary Correspondence Exchanged With Expedition Artist, 1893-1912, With Bonus Greenland Stereoview!
Archive

An interesting and far-ranging archive of correspondence exchanged between explorer Robert E. Peary (1856-1920) and Alberto Operti (1852-1927), the Italian-born illustrator who served as Peary's official artist on two expeditions to the Arctic in 1896 and 1897. The archive is comprised of one letter signed by Peary, and four typed letters signed by Peary; his signatures appear as: "R.E. Peary" (2); "R.E. Peary, U.S.N." (1); and "Peary" (2). Ca. 1893-1912. Various places including Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, New York; and South Harpswell, Maine. The archive also features a bonus stereoview depicting the 1901 Peary Expedition in Greenland. Expected wear including flattened folds, scattered stains, edge chips, or pin holes, and isolated pencil inscriptions from a former collector. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition, which is overall very good. The average size of the documents is 8" x 10.375."

Operti had traveled on two of Peary's expeditions to Greenland, in 1896 and 1897. Operti had gained celebrity in exploration circles after painting two stirring depictions of the survivors of Greely's 1884 Arctic Expedition, and by becoming a founding member of the Arctic Club of America. Operti completed drawings, paintings, and even plaster casts during Peary's expeditions. His subjects included Inuit people, polar animals, the landscape, and vessels.

The lot includes, in chronological order:

1. A 1p typed letter signed by Peary as "R.E. Peary" at bottom. June 21, 1893. Washington, D.C. Typed in blue ink on onionskin paper, mounted on a larger piece of brown paper. Regarding the inaccuracies of portrait illustrations of Peary and his wife and fellow explorer, Josephine Diebitsch Peary, in the newspapers.

2. A 2pp letter signed by Peary as "R.E. Peary, U.S.N." on the top of the second page. February 8, 1897. Brooklyn, New York. Secretarially inscribed on laid watermarked paper. Pencil-docketed by Operti at upper left. With excellent content relating to Peary's attempt to obtain enlargements of photograph negatives.

3. A 1p typed letter signed by Peary as "R.E. Peary" at bottom. October 24, 1903. Washington, D.C. Typed in violet ink on watermarked "Department of the Navy / Bureau of Yards and Docks" letterhead, with one contemporaneous typographical edit in the last sentence. Several minor ink smears not affecting legibility. Minor mounting traces verso. In part: "I also stated to the parties that I knew a man who, from his experience in the north and his professional practice and bent, was just the one to put this scheme in practical shape for them…"

4. A 1p typed letter signed by Peary as "Peary" at center. June 9, 1912. South Harpswell, Maine. Typed in blue ink on lightweight watermarked paper with "Eagle Island / South Harpswell, Maine" letterhead. Pencil-docketed by Operti at lower right. Peary asks for a project quote and adds the postscript: "I suppose the pictures which I sent Mr. Ritter for the Travel Exhibit, are on the way back to me, but they have not as yet arrived…"

5. A 1p typed letter signed by Peary as "Peary" at bottom. August 16, 1912. South Harpswell, Maine. Typed in blue ink on lightweight watermarked paper with "Eagle Island / South Harpswell, Maine" letterhead. Pencil-docketed by Operti at upper right. In part: "Your letter is at hand, together with the photographs of the Arctic Exhibit at the Travel Club… The photographs are good, and I think you managed, under the circumstances, to get the dogs looking surprisingly well…"

6. A Keystone View Company stereoview, #342/#13325, "Twin Ships Windward and Eric - Perry [sic] Expedition, 1901 - at Nuerke [Nuuk], 800 Miles from North Pole, Greenland."

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: average size: 8" x 10.375"
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