SKYWARD (SIGNED BY SIXTY CREW MEMBERS of Byrd's 1928 Antarctic/South Pole Crew); Man's Mastery of the Air as Shown by the Brilliant Flights of America's Leading Air Explorer. His Life, His Thrilling Adventures, His North Pole and Trans-Atlantic Flighrs, Together with His Plans for Conquering the Antarctic by Air
New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1928. List of Signatures in SKYWARD by Richard Evelyn Byrd
FRONT FREE ENDPAPER
Kennard F. Bubier, Gunnery Sergeant, AV Mechanic, USMC
VERSO FRONT FREE ENDPAPER (BLUE PAGE – (BACK OF MAP)
Wilfred Mexted (sp?), Pauatahannui (Wellington, New Z. Second Impression. Hardcover. Octavo. Blue boards (8 3/4 in. x 6 in.), lightly textured and ruled in blind, faded gilt lettering to top board and spine. Rubbing to extremities, and some staining to boards. Solid and firm of joint and hinge. Blue topstain. Deckled fore-edge. No dustjacket.
This is Byrd’s part biography/autobiography, part narrative of details of his (contested-by-some) North Pole flight, and then-imminent first expedition to Antarctica with flight to the South Pole (1928-30) This second printing was issued within weeks of the first printing, both in March of 1928; the commander and crew officially embarked on August 25th of that same year. This particular copy was once owned by a crew member who accompanied Byrd on this voyage
It is warmly inscribed, signed and dated by Commander Byrd and by SIGNED BY SIXTY PEOPLE associated with the 1928-1930 expedition. The inclusion of ALL these signatures — doggedly pursued by the Aviation mechanic whose book this once was, is astonishing. A New York Times reporter, and a Paramount filmographer and cameraman also signed. One can easily locate and view the fabulous documentary: “With Byrd at the South Pole., which depicts everything from dog-team travels, to encasing two planes in a huge ice-block fortress, to some expedition members, dancing with Penguins! Byrd took with him 42 men, 650 tons of supplies,95 sled dogs, 3 planes, and photography/surveying equipment to capture his geographic and expedition data/findings.
From his basecamp nicknamed, “Little America”, set up in early 1929, Byrd's team undertook many photographic expeditions and geological surveys while planning for his flight to the South Pole. Following many important trips, and most notably the first successful flight over the South Pole on November 28, 1929, where Byrd famously tossed 250 lbs.of food out of the plane in order to successfully clear the peaks of an Antarctic mountain range.
Many signatures are followed by a brief notation of their particular job assignment either preparing for, or actually on board the two ocean-going vessels -- either S/S The City of New York, or the S.S. Eleanor Boling. Sometimes the pen was shared, but the signatures are all unique. Examples of assignments written down after the signatures include expected job titles such as: Engineers, Cooks, Mates, Firemen, Stewards, Radio Operators, Able Seamen, but also unusual ones such as Sailmaker, Coal Passer,, Tailor, Topographer, Physicist, Aerial Surveyor, Ski Man, Chief Dog Driver, Pilots — even Stowaway*!
**Billy Gawronski, from the Lower East Side of New York dreamed of being an explorer. .In late August of 1928, at the age of 17, William Gawronski tried three times to stow away on one of Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s two ships, soon bound for Antarctica .He was discovered and caught three times. On his second attempt he jumped off the docks in Manhattan and swam across the Hudson to Hoboken, New Jersey trying to board The City of New York. Gawronski was a member of the Polish Falcons of America, a fraternal organization with an emphasis on physical fitness, and was an outstanding, strong swimmer. Caught in New Jersey as well, Gawronski then hitchiked to Virginia where the ships were stopping to refuel, but was also discovered. Admiral Byrd admired Billy’s pluck and finally offered him a job as a mess boy on the expedition’s supply ship, The Eleanor Bolling. Good Plus. Item #100329
List of Signatures in SKYWARD by Richard Evelyn Byrd
FRONT FREE ENDPAPER
Kennard F. Bubier, Gunnery Sergeant, AV Mechanic, USMC
VERSO FRONT FREE ENDPAPER (BLUE PAGE – (BACK OF MAP)
Wilfred Mexted (sp?), Pauatahannui (Wellington, New Zealand)
Vida Althea Castle
Charles E. Castle
Ivy Florence Guise (Wellington, NZ Nov. 20, 1928)
George Francis Guise (Bootmaker in Wellington)
__________________________________________________
S/S. ELEANOR BOLING
Nov. 25, 1928
……………………………………………………………………..
R. Shingler, Cook Eleanor Boling
H. Barnes, M.D.
Carroll B. Foster, Jr. (Coal-Passer)
John Buys, AB Seaman
Lyle E. Womack
SECOND FREE ENDPAPER
Kenward F. Bubier, USMC
E. J. Demas (Probably known as “Pete”)
Benjamin Roth, St. Sgt. U.S. Army A.C.
Jerry De Becca (Wright Aero, Ref.?
R. A. Shropshire (Ralph)
Willard Van der Veer (Paramount News)
Alton N. Parker, Capt. USMCR
Russell Owen, New York Times
Dean C. Smith
Bernt Balchen
Harold Irving June
Charlie Lofgren
M. Rime (sp?)
SS ELEANOR BOLING
NOVEMBER 25, 1928
Capt. G.H. Brauers (???)
Malcolm P. Hansen
Lieut. H . (Harry) Adams, USN. Ret. Second Officer of the Bolling
S. Edward Roos
Elbert J. Thawley (2nd Asst. Engir)
Joe de Savahl, Second Mate
Sydney Guaron Chief Steward
J.S. O’Brien
E.T. Clark
Frank McPherson, Chief Eng.
H.R. King (?)
Charles L. Kessler
John L. Sutton
FRONTIS PHOTO OF COMMANDER RICHARD EVELYN BYRD
Inscription “To Kenward Bubier with cordial good wishes from a shipmate. R.E. Byrd. Dec. 24, 1928. Ross Sea. Xmas Eve.”
COPYRIGHT PAGE
S.S. BARQUE CITY OF NEW YORK 180 degree L.
Frederick S. Jelillen (sp?), Master BL. City of New York
William C. Haines, Meteorologist
Richard W. Konter (____ Dick)
Esmonde N. O’Brien, 1st Assistant Engineer
Carl O. Petersen, Radio Operator
Edward E. Goodale Dog Driver
Percy J. Wallis Tailor
George A. Thomas, Jr., Ski Man
Frank Fritzon
D.B. Isaks ________
Max E. Boehning (Fireman)
Victor C. Czegka, (Machinist)
DEDICATION PAGE
CITY OF NEW YORK EN ROUTE TO ANTARCTICA DEC. 9, 1928
John Jacobson, Sailmaker
James G. Feury, Fireman
Frank F. Davies, Physicist
Wm. Gawronski – Stowaway
Arthur B. Creagh M.M. Lop W. (Cook)
Quin A. Blackburn, Topographer
(Printed Dedication)
Sydney Guaron Chief Steward (Signed book twice)
Arthur P. Berlin, Fireman
George H. (Hamilton) Black (from Gob to Leatherneck) Supply Officer
Norman D. (Dane) Vaughan Dog-Driver
Jacob “Jack” Bursey Dog Driver
Arthur E. (Treadwell) Walden, Head Dog Driver
A.C (Arthur Chadbourne) McKinley, Aerial Surveyor
Larry Gould, Geologist & Geographer
Frederick E. Crockett ( Dog Driver).
Price: $7,500.00