German-American astronomer and polar explorer (1832-1860) who took part in the Second Grinnell expedition led by Elisha Kent Kane in 1853-55, and in Isaac Israel Hayes's 1860-61 attempt to reach the North Pole. While in Greenland as part of the Hayes expedition, he broke through a thin spot in the sea ice and froze to death. Three rare ALSs signed "August Sonntag," totaling seven pages on three sets of adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, dated from 1859-1860. Three significant letters to fellow polar explorer Isaac Israel Hayes, whom he accompanied on his 1861 polar expedition; also includes a letter to Hayes from Sonntag's father, requesting information on his fate. Excerpts:
March 9, 1859: "Two months ago I sent you a long letter, directed to the care of the Secretary of the Geographical Society, New-York, and hope it has reached you. I told you in it, and repeat, that I should like to join an expedition for reaching the north pole, and you would oblige me much by informing me about the prospects that such an expedition will be got up. Besides the way, which I demonstrated in my former letter, to reach the pole, I have thought of another, viz: to push a steamer as high north as possible in the Spitzbergen seas and will, if you wish it, give you my plans about how to do it…I hope you will succeed in getting the expedition under weigh this year, there is plenty of time."
May 7, 1860: "Today Mr. George Law was here and I had a short talk with him on Arctic matters, from which I conclude that it might be possible to get something out of him if he is approached from the right direction…Dr. and Mrs. Armsby etc. beg to be remembered to you and thank you very much for the 'Arctic Boatjourney' I received my copy only yesterday and am very much obliged, the more I read of it the better I like it and your style is admired by everybody."
June 19, 1860: "I have the most perfect confidence in you and know that you are my best friend and trust you will find me yours, but we both must guard ourselves against the Coast-survey—It is not necessary that our agreement should be known until after we have left—and I can keep it quiet but want it only for the gratification of my friends. This morning the trustees have positively promised to leave me my position here and put me on salary again as soon as I return, although I shall be occupied for several months afterwards in computing the results of the expedition…I shall look out for the instruments, only telegraph me as soon as you know how many chronometers the Navy-department will provide…If you cannot agree on the terms which I proposed last night, please do not mention them in your next letter at all, as I want to go with you under all circumstances."
Also includes an LS by his father, Franz Sonntag, asking Hayes for information about his son's death, October 27, 1861. In part: "By a recent Newspaper paragraph I rec'd the mournful information, that my son, Mr. August Sonntag, who accompanied you in your late Expedition died during an excursion undertaken in company with a certain native Greenlander, by the name of Haus. The sudden loss of this child of mine of so much promise, does afflict me deeply, as you may suppose and you would much oblige me by giving me all the information you may possess as to his untimely fate."
The August Sonntag letters are in fine condition; his father's letter is in good condition, with a large tear repaired with tape on the reverse, scattered creases, and loss to an upper corner.
