Autochromes of the Shackleton-Rowett (Quest) Expedition 1921-22

Limited-edition fine quality prints

With colour photography in its infancy, very few colour images were captured on the great polar expeditions of the early 20th century.  The breakthrough in colour – a process known as “Autochrome” – was invented by the brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière in 1903 and became commercially available in 1907.  Herbert Ponting made a handful of autochrome exposures in 1911 on the Terra Nova Expedition, but with limited success.  In 1921, autochrome plates were among the stocks of photographic equipment loaded onto Quest for the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition.  However, exposure times are long, and black and white and cine photography had a higher priority, so on the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition, the naturalist and photographer, did not get around to making many autochrome exposures.   Even so, the collection of autochromes made by Wilkins represents the only substantial body of colour photographs of any expedition of the era. Since Quest returned, the collection of half-plate glass slides has remained in the archive of the family of John Quiller Rowett, the businessman and philanthropist, and school friend of Shackleton, who financed the expedition.

The Quest autochromes depict a range of scenes from the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition. There are stunning records of Quest berthed in St Katharine Docks, prior to departure from London in September 1921, and images of Quest anchored in the harbour of Funchal, Madeira.  Wilkins went on to capture the magnificent landscapes of South Georgia, and scenes in and around the island’s whaling stations. And there are images following Sir Ernest Shackleton’s death at Grytviken, at Hope Point where the men of Quest constructed the memorial to their late leader in May 1922, and at their visit to the graveside of the explorer, in Grytviken’s cemetery.

The Quest autochromes

	The autochromes of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition – G H Wilkins
	Bold text indicates available as limited edition prints – see also downloadable factsheet
1	R.Y.S. Quest in St Katharine Docks, London, August/September 1921
2	R.Y.S. Quest in St Katharine Docks, London, August/September 1921
3	Funchal, Madeira. Quest and Gueydon in the bay. From the road to Caniçal,18 October 1921
4	Funchal, Madeira, Quest and Gueydon in the bay. From the road to Caniçal,18 October 1921
5	Glacier cliffs and elephant seals. Ice Bay, South Georgia, 10 December 1921
6	Glacier cliffs and elephant seals. Ice Bay, South Georgia, 10 December 1921
7	Area around Elsa Bay, South Georgia. Albatross nesting, c. 21 December 1921
8	Area around Elsa Bay, South Georgia. Albatross nesting, c. 21 December 1921
9	Area around Elsa Bay, South Georgia. Albatross nesting, c. 21 December 1921
10	Area around Elsa Bay, South Georgia. Albatross nesting, c. 21December 1921
11	Area around Elsa Bay, South Georgia. Albatross nesting, c. 21December 1921
12	The “miniature waterfall”, Elsa Bay area, South Georgia, 27 December 1921
13	Prince Olav Harbour, South Georgia, 2 January 1922
14	Whale carcasses in Prince Olav harbour, South Georgia, 2 January 1922
15	Whale carcasses in Prince Olav harbour, South Georgia, 2 January 1922
16	The flensing platform, Prince Olav Harbour, South Georgia, 2 January 1922
17	Three Brothers mountains, Allardyce Range South Georgia, 28 April 1922
18	Three Brothers mountains, Allardyce Range South Georgia, 28 April 1922
19	Three Brothers mountains, Allardyce Range South Georgia, 28 April 1922
20	Shackleton’s Trail, inland from Leith and Husvik, South Georgia, 28 April 1922
21	Sunset over the mountains, inland South Georgia, 28 April 1922
22	Crew of Quest at Shackleton’s cairn, Hope Point, King Edward Cove, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
23	Crew of Quest at Shackleton’s cairn, Hope Point, King Edward Cove, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
24	Shackleton’s cairn and view across King Edward Cove, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
25	Shackleton’s cairn and view across King Edward Cove, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
26	Shackleton’s cairn and view across King Edward Cove, Mount Sugartop in the distance, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
27	Shackleton’s cairn and view across King Edward Cove, Mount Paget in the distance, South Georgia, 5 May 1922
28	6 May 1922, Shackleton’s grave and wreaths laid on behalf of Lady Shackleton and her children, and Mr and Mrs John Quiller Rowett. Grytviken, South Georgia.
29	Interior. Probably London, about August 1921
30	Interior. Probably London, about August 1921. A colour calibration strip can be seen on the table.

Downloadable/scrollable factsheet:

Limited Edition Prints

High-quality, limited edition prints of most of the Quest autochromes, on premium cotton paper, can be purchased from Salto-Ulbeek via info@salto-ulbeek.com or https://salto-ulbeek.com/publishing/the-autochromes-of-the-shackleton-rowett-quest-expedition-1921-1922-prints/.  Editions of 200 prints of Images #1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29a and 29b – are available in each of two sizes:

Medium 48 x 61 cm total with border, image size 37 x 50 cm (€240)

Large 61 x 79 cm total with border, image size 50 x 68 cm (€360).

Prices are inclusive of VAT but exclusive of P&P and applicable import duties.

Catalogue

Included with orders of prints, is a highly collectable 24 x 22 cm catalogue of 48 pages created by Salto-Ulbeek and containing each of the 30 Quest autochromes in their original state, plus 21 of the restored pictures as single-page images.  They are accompanied by text written by Jan Chojecki, grandson of John Quiller Rowett, telling the story of these images in the context of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition, with extracts from the journal of George Hubert Wilkins describing the moments depicted.