Live Auction 7470Exploration and Travel
Theodore Howard Somervell (1890-1975) and various photographers
Lot 286 THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 

Theodore Howard Somervell (1890-1975) and various photographers

Mt Everest from E. Rongbuk Glacier at 19,500ft. North Peak (25,000ft) in front; View from Mt Everest, from above 26,000ft; and Porters in the seracs of East Rongbuk Glacier, below camp II

Closed27 September 2007

Price Realised

GBP 1,000

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Theodore Howard Somervell (1890-1975) and various photographers
Mt Everest from E. Rongbuk Glacier at 19,500ft. North Peak (25,000ft) in front; View from Mt Everest, from above 26,000ft; and Porters in the seracs of East Rongbuk Glacier, below camp II
the first titled on the reverse
carbon print photographs
unframed
9¾ x 15 1/8in. (24.8 x 38.4cm.)
9¾ x 15in. (24.8 x 38.1cm.)
10 1/16 x 14 7/8in. (25.5 x 37.7cm.)
with a copy of C.G. Bruce's L'Assaut du Mont Everest 1922 (binding lacking) (4)

Presented by Dr T. Howard Somervell to Dr John Hunter.

Specialist note

Somervell gained his early experience of rock climbing with the Keswick based Fell and Rock Climbing Club. He took part in the 1922 expedition which followed the route surveyed by Lt.-Col. Howard-Bury's expedition of the previous year. In company with George Leigh Mallory and Maj. E.F. Norton he reached 26,985ft. Two years later, again with Norton, he improved on this by reaching 28,985ft. on 4 June 1924: 'we agreed reluctantly the game was up ... So with heavy hearts, beating over 180 to the minute, we retraced our steps' (Somervell). The expedition however ended in tragedy when Mallory and A.C. Irvine disappeared whilst making a second attempt on the summit: 'We now await news of Mallory and Irvine, who today are making another attempt with oxygen ... nobody deserves the summit more than Mallory' (Somervell).