Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1912
Lot 371

Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1912

Amundsen's waterproof matchbox holder containing three matchboxes

Closed27 September 2007

Price Realised

GBP 5,625

More Information

How to sell

Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1912
Amundsen's waterproof matchbox holder containing three matchboxes
waterproofed cloth and metal, with a sealed screw cap, matchboxes by Nitedals Taendstikfabrik, Christiania
8in. (20.3cm.) long

Roald Amundsen, and thence by descent to the previous owner, Amundsen's great-niece; sale, Christie's, 27 Sept. 2006, lot 207.

Specialist note

There is another identical piece of equipment from Amundsen's South Pole expedition in the Fram Museum, Oslo.

'A match factory gave us all the safety matches we wanted. They were packed so securely that we could quite well have towed the cases after us in the sea all the way and found the matches perfectly dry on arrival.' (R.E.G.Amundsen, The South Pole, London, 1912, p.77)