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SHACKLETON, SIR ERNEST H. (1874-1922). British Antarctic explorer who came within 97 nautical miles of attaining the South Pole on his 1907-1909 expedition. ALS. (“E.H. Shackleton”). 1p. 8vo. London, March 11, 1910. Written, curiously, on his “British Antarctic Expedition 1907” stationery to Mr. Storow. “According to promise I send you 2 or 3 stamps for your young people...” In 1901, Shackleton was part of the Discovery expedition led by Robert F. Scott. When Shackleton became ill, he unwillingly returned home via New Zealand, San Francisco and New York, whereupon he found that his insight and experience were in high demand. He helped outfit several ships for arctic travel and eventually became secretary of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, but Shackleton’s goal was to return to Antarctica and lead his own expedition to reach both the geographic and magnetic South Pole. Between 1907 and 1909, Shackleton and his crew explored Antarctica aboard the Nimrod. Among the expedition’s accomplishments was the discovery of the approximate location of the magnetic South Pole, and although Shackleton’s party broke the record for traveling to the southernmost latitude on earth, they were unable to reach the Pole, falling approximately 97 nautical miles short of their goal. Nonetheless, Shackleton and his men returned home to a well-deserved hero’s welcome. Prior to leaving New Zealand on the Nimrod, Shackelton became a postmaster and issued 23,492 New Zealand Penny Universal stamps, which were overprinted with the words “King Edward VII Land,” and a cancellation stamp that read “BRIT. ANTARCTIC EXPD., N.Z.,” meant to be used to postmark mail from Antarctica’s King Edward VII Land. Due to bad weather. Shackelton failed to reach King Edward VII Land, a peninsula within the Ross Dependency, and instead established a base at McMurdo Sound, despite an agreement he had made with Scott who had claimed priority to wintering at the base. On January 9, 1909, Shackleton and his companions reached 88°23’ S before they were forced to turn around. His diary records carrying the stamps to their furthest south position: “The last day out… The wind eased down at 1 am and at 2 am we were up, had breakfast and shortly after 4 am started south with the Union Jack and the brass cylinder of stamps. At 9 am quick hard marching we were in 88°23’ and there hoisted HM’s flag took possession of the Plateau in the name of HM and called it King Edward Plateau. Homeward Bound. Whatever regrets may be we have done our best.” Shackelton’ expedition left him mired in debt and he quickly undertook various money-making ventures including selling stamps and appearing on the lecture circuit. Our letter was written shortly before he departed for New York where, on March 29, the Explorers Club, of which Robert Peary had recently been elected president, held a luncheon in his honor during which Shackleton declared he would beat America to the South Pole. Normal folding with some very minor age toning; otherwise fine.