Shackleton’s personally-owned and -used black leatherette camera viewer, measuring 5 x 5 x .5 when folded and 5 x 5 x 7 when open, bearing a mounted plaque engraved in Shackleton’s simulated handwriting, “To H. B. C. Bussey, in remembrance of his help to me in 1914. Ernest H. Shackleton.” In fine condition, with general wear from use and age. Accompanied by a CD-ROM entitled ‘Shackleton’s Photographer’ about the 1914–1917 Endurance expedition.
In 1914, Shackleton’s brother-in-law H. B. C. Bussey had been commissioned to oversee and facilitate the photographic aspects of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Shackleton’s second journey to Antarctica. This involved traveling with Frank Hurley, the mission’s official photographer, and getting him through customs into London. Shackleton was well aware of the importance of photography in publicizing and promoting the expedition, forming the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Film Syndicate Ltd. as a way to generate revenue through film and photography. It seems that Shackleton must have presented this camera viewer to Bussey before leaving for his 1914 mission, a token of appreciation for his important work.
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