Next Stop Antarctica

Inventory lists of the S.S. Jacob Ruppert taken April/May 1934, signed by C. Benzoni, for H L Tapley and Co Ltd. [Dunedin, 1934].

The Jacob Ruppert was laid up in Dunedin for the winter of 1934. Underpaid crew were thought to be pilfering from the ship, so an inventory needed to be made and the contents sealed.

Cedric Benzoni (d. 1992) worked for H. L. Tapleys, ship agents, for seventeen years. He had to write an inventory and keep track of the movement of supplies between the ships Jacob Ruppert, Bear and Golden State during refitting. He found that part of his job was to approach other Dunedin firms to obtain free supplies for the expeditions. His lists offer a glimpse of the range of necessities and comforts taken by these Antarctic explorers.

Inventory lists of the S.S. Jacob Ruppert taken April/May 1934, signed by C. Benzoni, for H L Tapley and Co Ltd. [Dunedin, 1934].
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Envelope. Richard N. Konter to Your Worship the Honorable Mayor R.S. Black, Dunedin, N.Z., City of New York, 19 February 1930.

Popular Arctic veteran Richard Konter (1882–1979) wrote to Mayor Robert Sherriff Black (1867–1939) from Little America in 1930. His envelope shows the liberal franking of the Byrd Expedition postal service.

Envelope courtesy of Dunedin City Council Archives

Envelope. Richard N. Konter to Your Worship the Honorable Mayor R.S. Black, Dunedin, N.Z., City of New York, 19 February 1930.
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Radiogram. Richard E. Byrd to His Worship R. S. Black, Little America, Antarctica, 8 June 1929.

Radiograms show how far the standard of communications had improved since the days of the Scott and Shackleton. Byrd was able to send messages direct to Mayor Black. They had a cordial personal relationship, which continued after Black left office in 1933.

Radiogram courtesy of Dunedin City Council Archives.

Radiogram. Richard E. Byrd to His Worship R. S. Black, Little America, Antarctica, 8 June 1929.
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Radiogram. Richard E. Byrd to His Worship R. S. Black, Little America, Antarctica, 14 July 1929.

Radiogram courtesy of Dunedin City Council Archives.

Radiogram. Richard E. Byrd to His Worship R. S. Black, Little America, Antarctica, 14 July 1929.
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