Census of copies of the Aurora Australis

This is an abbreviated census of copies of the Aurora Australis in public and private ownership. Further details, if available, can be viewed by clicking on the Copy No link.
The Aurora was not numbered. The Copy No included here assigned is for identification purposes only and at the outset was on the basis of country (and within, alphabetically by owner): USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and then private copies in the same order. The numbering system has recently been redesigned to better accommodate changes when new copies are found or ownership changes. Now numbers are distributed between

Group A Public or Institutional Ownership (Numbers 01-99)
Group B Private Ownership (Numbers 100-149)
Group C Private Anonymous Ownership (Numbers 150-199)
Group D Copies That Lack Provenance, That May Appear Above, That May Not Exist, etc. (Numbers 200-249)
Group E Copies that have Appeared at Auction of in Booksellers' Catalogues (Numbers 250-299)

The entries under Stencilling are shorthand codes deriving from the stencilling on the boards. These have been assigned by G.A. Mawer (a few minor changes have been made by R. Stephenson as new informatiion becomes available).
Most of the entries under Original/Early Owners are from information obtained by John Millard or Robert Stephenson in the late 1970s and into the early 1980s.

Launched: 15 July 2007. Last updated: 30 August 2010.



Accessed at least many times since 15 July 2007.

Group A—Public or Institutional Ownership. (Listed numerically.) The numbers 01-99 are reserved for this category.
Total number of copies in this category: 38. Of these 35 have been confirmed (indicated by an *) as being present at the location given.

Copy
No
Current Owner
Location
Variant
Stencilling
Original/Early Owners
Notes
01* John Carter Brown Library Providence, RI, USA
A
 Ewed Kidneys Possibly "the Earl Amherst, the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, the Devon and Exeter Institution, Commander W.D.M. Stavely and other donors." Purchased at a Sotheby sale, 3 (& 4) July 1968 (possibly 1967—American Book Prices Current, 1967 edition), Lot 198. Bought by Maggs at £260.
02* Columbia University New York, NY, USA
A
 Pates Original owner unknown. Later owner: Bassett Jones.
03* Dartmouth College Hanover, NH, USA
A
 Oatmish Vilhjalmur Stefansson (?)
04* Harvard University Cambridge, MA, USA
A
 Ayley Original owner unknown. Later owner: Donald McKay Frost
05* Huntington Library San Marino, California, USA
A
 Ruit Edith Shackleton, A.S.W. Rosenbach
06* Library of Congress Washington, D.C., USA
A
 Turtle Soup Unknown
07* Morgan Library New York, NY, USA
A
 Oatmeal J.P. Morgan
08* New York Public Library New York, NY, USA
A
 Pates2
09* University of California at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
B
 J.P. Johnson, Mary Goodwin Was "USA Private Collection #2" Copy 169 below.
10* University of Chicago, John Crerar Library Chicago, IL, USA Nineteen-O-Three G850 1907 .A80
11* Christ's College, Cambridge Cambridge, UK
A
 SH STEW | ON CUTLETS Sir Raymond Priestley
12* Dulwich College Dulwich, London, UK
A
 Petits Pos Rudyard Kipling
13* Dundee Heritage Trust (Discovery Point) Dundee, Scotland, UK
A
 Soap Joel copy. This copy was at the National Maritime Museum until 1995 when it was transferred to the Dundee Heritage Trust. It is now on display at Discovery Point.
14* National Library of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
A
 Honey A.H. Bishop, Esq.
15* National Maritime Museum Greenwich, UK
A
 J&T Elizabeth Dawson-Lambton Dawson-Lambton copy
16* National Maritime Museum Greenwich, UK
A
 Elspeth Beardmore, Lady Invernairn Invernairn copy
17* Royal Collections, Windsor Castle Windsor, UK
18* Scott Polar Research Institute Cambridge, UK
A
 Butter Lady Emily Shackleton, Dr. Hugh R. Mill
19* University of Oxford, Bodleian Library Oxford, UK
A
 Kidneys
20* Australian Antarctic Division Library Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
A
 Butter (AAD)
21* National Library of Australia Canberra, A.C.T., Australia
A
 Butter 267 Kivell copy
22* State Library of New South Wales (Dixson Library) Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
A
 Packets
23* State Library of New South Wales (Mitchell Library) Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
A
 Sugar
24* State Library of Tasmania Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
B
 Juliennes | Soup Capt J. K. Davis
25* Museum Victoria Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
A
 Chicken Campbell D. Mackeller
26* State Library of South Australia Adelaide, S.A., Australia
A
 O-Seven Sir Josiah Symon
27* University of Adelaide Adelaide, S.A., Australia
A
 Liquid Sir Douglas Mawson
28* University of New England Armidale, N.S.W., Australia
Mixture
 Doris Priestley (Mrs Griffith Taylor) Searching the on-line library catalogue yielded no results.
29* Canterbury Museum Christchurch, NZ
A
 Tarctic Henry Nuttall (Manchester, UK)
30* Alexander Turnbull Library (Kinsey copy) Wellington, New Zealand
B
 Ulienne Soup Sir Joseph Kinsey
31* Alexander Turnbull Library (Turnbull copy) Wellington, New Zealand
A
 Beans Alexander Turnbull
32 University of Otago, Hocken Library Dunedin, NZ
A
 Leonard Tripp An original copy was held "on deposit" in the Hocken Library from 17 March 1976 until it was returned to a descendant of the family concerned on 16 November 2005. Hocken Reference file: 804/3. The "original" copy that was held on deposit at the Hocken Library was classified at : Bliss KWT/Aur <#576012803> [From Hocken Library catalogue]
33* National Library of Australia Canberra, A.C.T., Australia
A.H. Spencer (bookseller) to Henry L. White White copy
34* The Newberry Library Chicago, Illinois, USA
A
 Front: me com. Back: lister & Co. on Merchants. pool. mi E.J.C, Kendall, Dr E.S. Marshall This is the copy John Millard identified as "USA Private Collection #1". See Copy 168 below.
35* Eton College Windsor, Berkshire, U.K.
A
 Front: 1902. Back: none. Bookplate of Bernard Eckstein. The Fishers, who wrote the biography 'Shackleton' (London: Barrie, 1957), claimed that in preparing their book they made use of a copy of the Aurora held by Eton College.
36 St John's College Cambridge, U.K.
Thought to have a copy of the Aurora. Needs confirmation. According to Hew Lewis-Jones (SPRI) this might be a copy owned by Vivian Fuchs.
37 Clare Lodge Harpenden, Hertfordshire, U.K.
In a letter dated 11 September 1957 the writer, Mr E. Shutt, Governor, National Children's Home, stated that Clare Lodge had a copy of 'Aurora Australis.' Possibly given by sister of Frank Wild.
Needs confirmation.
38* South Australian Museum Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Sir Douglas Mawson (?) Previously included in the collections of the Mawson Institute for Antarctic Research. Presented by Lady Mawson in 1962.

Group B—Private Ownership. (Listed numerically. It's quite possible that one or more of these copies is no longer owned by the named.) The numbers 100-149 are reserved for this category. Total number of copies in this category: 19. Of these 17 have been confirmed (indicated by an *) as being present at the location given.

Copy
No
Current Owner
Location
Variant
Stencilling
Original/Early Owners
Notes
100* Joe Bugayer USA
101* R.J. Campbell UK
A
 Ter
102* Neelon Crawford Unknown (USA)
A
 Butter & aked Beans | Tinned Fruit Frank Wild Wild copy. Owned by Louis Starr, Far Hills, NJ. Sold at High Latitude Louis Starr Sale to photographer Neelon Crawford (R. Stephenson believes). See Copy 259.
103* Martin Greene Washington, USA
B
 Banex In the Millard census this was given as "USA Private Collection #3." Purchased at or after the Renard sale, Lot 1436.
104* Unknown (previously John Levinson) Unknown (USA)
B
 Veal Buckley Previously owned by John Levinson, Wilmington, DE, USA. Sold at Swann Galleries Levinson Sale (reportedly to an American collector). In the Millard census this was given as "UK Private Collection #7" in Oxon., UK, Copy 166
105* Private collection Santa Monica USA Pedition907
106* Lord Shackleton (now Shackleton family member) UK
A
 Presumably still in the family.
107* Robert B. Stephenson Jaffrey, NH, USA
B
 One Pound Tins Unknown Purchased from Francis Edwards Ltd. 1978.
108* Seamus Taaffe Athy, Ireland
A
 Chocolate Belle Donaldson, P.J. Skellerup Previously Millard "New Zealand Private collection #1, Near Christchurch, NZ." See Copy 157 below..
109* Taurus Collection
110* Ernest Joyce copy New Jersey
A
 Antarctic Expedition 1907 443 Ernest Joyce Joyce family member to the present owners via auction sale.
111* Harrison copy USA
112* UK Private Collection West Berkshire, UK
A
 Tea No signatures. Stencilling: Inside front cover: Obscured numbers at gutter. "25.1 lb TINS | BRITISH" Inside back cover: TARCT | NIMRO | YTTELT | ANDPA | TEA | 1"
113* UK Private Collection Devon, UK
Source: Paul Davies.
114* UK Private Collection Norfolk, UK
The owner of this copy told me that he bought it at Christie's London in 1999.
115 USA Private Collection Bay Area, California
Someone named Rick. Source: Martin Greene.
116* Antipodean Books Garrison, NY, USA
RARA | AR Honey … Barraclough … Shuman Could be Copy 165 above. Offered for sale at the Boston Book Fair 11/2008. Shuman collection.
117* UK Private Collection Scotland, UK
Could be Copy 163 above.
118 Bob Kucharek UK
Aeneas Mackintosh copy?


Group C—Private Anonymous Ownership. (This nomenclature derives from the work done by John Millard. In some instances the owners are known.) The numbers 150-199 are reserved for this category.

Copy
No
Current Owner
Location
Variant
Stencilling
Original/Early Owners
Notes
150 Argentina Private Collection #1 Argentina
A
151 Australia Private Collection #1 N.S.W., Australia
A
 John Millard in a letter to Robert Stephenson dated May 1, 1982, states: "Originally owned by Captain John King Davis, Chief Officer and later Captain of the Expedition ship 'Nimrod'." This could apply to any of the Copies 151, 152 or 154.
152 Australia Private Collection #2 N.S.W., Australia John Millard in a letter to Robert Stephenson dated May 1, 1982, states: "Originally owned by Captain John King Davis, Chief Officer and later Captain of the Expedition ship 'Nimrod'." This could apply to any of the Copies 151, 152 or 154.
153 Australia Private Collection #3 N.S.W., Australia
B
 John Millard in a letter to Robert Stephenson dated May 1, 1982, states: "Originally owned by Captain John King Davis, Chief Officer and later Captain of the Expedition ship 'Nimrod'." This could apply to any of the Copies 151, 152 or 154.
154 Australia Private Collection #4 Victoria, Australia
B
155 Australia Private Collection #5 Victoria, Australia
156 France Private Collection #1 France
157 New Zealand Private collection #1 Near Christchurch, NZ.
A
 This is Copy 110, now owned by Seamus Taaffe, previously by J.P. Skellerup.
158 New Zealand Private collection #2 Near Lower Hutt, NZ
A
159 New Zealand Private collection #3 Near Wellington, NZ
160 UK Private Collection #1 Oxford, UK
A
161 UK Private Collection #2 London, UK
A
162 UK Private Collection #3 Sutton Coldfield, UK
A
163 UK Private Collection #4 Scotland, UK
A
164 UK Private Collection #5 Middlesex, UK
A
165 UK Private Collection #6 Hertfordshire, UK This is almost certainly Copy 200 below.
166 UK Private Collection #7 Oxon., UK B This is Copy 106, formerly owned by John Levinson.
167 UK Private Collection #8 London, UK
168 USA Private Collection #1 Illinois, USA
A
 Dr E.S. Marshall This copy is almost certainly that which is now at Chicago's Newberry Library in its Gerald F. Fitzfgerald collection, Copy 34.
169 USA Private Collection #2 Los Angeles, USA
B
 This copy is now at UCLA in its Mary Joe Goodwin collection, Copy 09.


Group D—Copies That Lack Provenance, That May Appear Above, That May Not Exist, etc. The numbers 200-249 are reserved for this category. Total number of copies in this category: 3. Of these 1 has been confirmed (indicated by an *) as having existed at some time in the past.

Copy
No
Current Owner
Location
Variant
Stencilling
Original/Early Owners
Notes
201 Bluntisham/Walcot UK
A
 BUTTER This the copy that was used in the first facsimile edition, published in 1986 by Bluntisham/Paradigm.
207 previously Sir Philip Brocklehurst UK Sir Philip Brocklehurst


Group E—Copies that have Appeared at Auction or in Booksellers' Catalogues and that May Appear Above, or Whose Location is Presently Unknown. The numbers 250-299 are reserved for this category.
In the instance of two or more sales of the same copy, the copy appears according to the most recent sale date.
Total number of copies in this category: 25. Of these 2 have been confirmed (indicated by an *) as being present in Group A, B, C or D above.


Copy
No
Auction/
Bookseller
Location
Variant
Stencilling
Original/Early Owners
Notes
250 Auction sales USA
A
 Maggs, London, 1950. Lot 4146, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 21 and 22 October 1969 (Streeter sale).
251* Bookseller's catalogue UK
B
 B43935 | 25.2 LB TINS
ANTA | NI | LYTT | LAND | T | 2.0		 Unknown. 281, Catalogue 1015, Francis Edwards, London, 1978.
Same as Copy 107 above.
252 Auction sale Scotland
A
 Lot 336, Christie's & Edmiston's, Scotland, 20 September 1982.
Probably Copy 163 and 204 above.
253 Bookseller's catalogue USA
B
 [B]RITISH [An]TARCTIC ExPEDITION 367, Catalogue 16, Bob Finch, Torrance, November 1982.
Could be Copy 252 because of the autographs.
254 Auction sale Australia
A
 OA TM EAL Lot 1435, Gaston Renard-Leonard Joel, Melbourne, 16 November 1994.
255 Auction sale Australia
B
 B[ritish] AN[tarctic] EX[pedition] Lot 1436, Gaston Renard-Leonard Joel, Melbourne, 16 November 1994.
256 Auction sale UK
portion of BISCUIT Lot 161, Christie's King Street, 27 September 1996.
257 Auction sale USA
A
 OATMEAL Lot 300, High Latitude, Bainbridge Island, 30 September 1996. Priester copy.
258 Auction sale UK
A
 OATMEAL Thomas George Shaughnessy. Lot 136, Christie's King Street, 26 September 1997.
Presentation copy to Thomas George Shaughnessy.
259* Auction sale USA
A
 BUTTER & [b]AKED BEANS TINNED FRUIT Frank Wild to niece J. Wild Lot 338, High Latitude, Bainbridge Island, 29 September 1999. Starr copy. Same as Copy 102 above.
260 Auction sale UK
A
 BR[itish] ANT[arctic] EXPE[dition]; 'EXP[ edition] 19[?07. .. ] Ernest Perris. Lot 153, Christie's King Street, 18 April 2000.
Presentation copy to Ernest Perris.
261 Auction sale UK
A
 BRITISH ANTA[rctic] EXPEDITION BUTTER Lot 300, Bloomsbury Book Auctions, London, 16 September 2000.
262 Auction sale UK
A
 BRITISH | ANTARCTIC | EXPEDITION Emily Shackleton. Lot 53, Christie's King Street, 25 September 2001.
Presentation copy to Emily Shackleton.
263 Auction sale UK
A
 KIDNEY SOUP Cecily Shackleton. Lot 55, Christie's King Street, 25 September 2001.
Presentation copy to Cecily Shackleton.
264 Auction sale UK
A
 EAL OATM Lot 182, Christie's King Street, 9 May 2002.
Signed by Shackleton and Marston.
265 Auction sale UK
A
 Roderick Murchison. Lot 129, Christie's King Street, 25 September 2002.
Presentation copy to Roderick Murchison.
266 Auction sale UK
A
 17 IP N Y Janet Stancomb Wills Lot 364, Christie's King Street, 25 September 2002.
Presentation copy to Janet Stancomb-Wills.
267 Auction sales UK, Canada
A
 OATMEAL [Brit]ISH ANTARCT[ic] [Exp]EDITION 190 Dr Michael Porter (from 1976 to 2005) Lot 408, Sotheby's, Chancery Lane, 24 June 1976 to "Porter".
Lot 243, Discovery Book Auctions, 14 September 2005.
268 Auction sales UK
BEANS [Julie]NNE SOUP Louis Bernacchi Lot 342, Bloomsbury, London, 16 October 2003 and Lot 345, Christie's King Street, 21 September 2005.
269 Auction sale UK
A
 [Marm]ALADE Lady Grey. Lot 683, Anderson & Garland, Newcastle, 21 March 2006.
270 Auction sale UK
A
 [Bri]TISH | [Anta]RCTIC | [Expedi]ITION | 07 | 62 Charles Cooper Lot 181, Christie's King Street, 27 September 2006.
Presentation copy to Charles Cooper.
271 Auction sale USA
B
 [Bri]TISH [Anta]RCTIC [Expe]DITION VEAL George Buckley. Lot 120, Swann Galleries, New York, 24 May 2007.
Levinson copy.
272 Auction sale UK
B
 [AN]TARCTIC | [EXPEDITIO]N 1907 Tom Eames. Lot 228, Bonhams, 26 June 2007.
Presentation copy to Tom Eames.
273 Auction sale UK
G. Wyatt Truscott Lot 348, Sotheby's, 29 November 1990.
Presentation copy to G. Wyatt Truscott, Lord Mayor of London.
274 Auction sale UK
Mrs Lysaght Lot 457, Sotheby's, 27 June 1991.
Presentation copy to Mrs Lysaght.

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