PLAYER'S CIGARETTE CARDS - ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION UNPRODUCED SERIES ARCHIVE

Player's Cigarette Cards - a folder of original material and ephemera relating to the production of a series of 'Antarctic Expedition' themed cigarette cards, later appearing to have been reworked as the Polar Exploration series released in 1916 by Player's Cigarettes (the second series of cards titled such). The folder features many letters from Commander Edward RGR Evans (Captain of the Terra Nova, in the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-13, second in command to Robert Scott). The letters reference sketches and artwork drawn by Evans for inclusion in the series of cigarette cards being produced by Mardons. The folder includes:

1) a letter on British Antarctic Expedition 1910 'Commander Evans's Lecture Tour' stationery dated June 29th 1914, which reads, in part: ...I am now making you sketches to the number mentioned in a form suitable for publication. There is some difficulty about using photographs, and for this reason I will send you original sketches.... I have done this kind of work for Players but never on the subject of Captain Scott's of Amundsen's expeditions,' (signed)

2) x4 pre-production test prints of sheets of the Player's Cigarettes cards, noted to the margin as 'Players Antarctic Series.'

3) a letter on HMS Mohawk headed stationery from Commander Evans reading 'Dear Sirs, I beg to enclose drawings 12 to 18 inclusive, of the Antarctic series. The others will follow in due course. You will, I know, pardon the delay. Owing to the War I am very much occupied!!! (signed) Dated August 18th 1914.

4) a two-page handwritten letter on Admiralty stationery, titled from HMS Mowhawk. The letter, in part, reads: Dear Sirs... I now forward in two registered packages the remainder of the sketches... they have been executed under somewhat trying conditions, but I think they will come up to your expectations and requirements.... Please arrange payment yourselves. I shall expend the money on providing myself with a winter outfit - I hope my destroyer will not fall into the hands of the Germans and I sincerely hope that I may participate in giving our bestial enemies the good 'licking' Commander Mardon speaks of! I much regret to inform you that Lieut. Commander HZ Dr P. Rennich was lost in the sinking of HMS Hogue. He was one of the cheeriest and ablest officers in the British Antarctic Expedition... (signed).

5) several copies of letters sent to Commander Evans from Mardon, Son & Hall feature - many thanking him for his sketches and work - including the letter to which Evans has responded, above.

6) several letters between Mardon, Son & Hall and Player's Cigarettes concerning the series' production

7) a pre-production 'Antarctic Series' list of subjects received from Commander Evans (showing a list of 24 sketches received)

And several other items of ephemera relating to both the organising of and production of the eventual series. A unique archive of never-before-seen paperwork, with some interesting historical connections.

Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, KCB, DSO, SGM (1880 –1957) was a Royal Navy officer and Antarctic explorer. Evans was seconded from the Navy to the Discovery expedition to Antarctica in 1901–1904, when he served on the crew of the relief ship, and afterwards began planning his own Antarctic expedition. However, he suspended this plan when offered the post of second-in-command on Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole in 1910–1913, as captain of the expedition ship Terra Nova. He accompanied Scott to within 150 miles of the Pole, but was sent back in command of the last supporting party. On the return he became seriously ill with scurvy and only narrowly survived. After the expedition he toured the country giving lectures, and returned to his naval duties as a commander in the summer of 1914. He spent the First World War as a destroyer captain, becoming famous as "Evans of the Broke" after the battle of Dover Strait in 1917.