Sought-after ALS signed “Rob. F. Scott,” one page, 6 x 9, H.M.S. Essex letterhead, March 22, 1908. Letter to Mrs. Bridge, in full: "In reply to your letter of the 10th, of those who have sailed in the 'Discovery' two only have gone South again with Mr. Shackleton. These are J. Wild able seaman, E. Joyce able seaman. I am glad the 'Voyage of the Discovery' gave pleasure to your boy." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original hand-addressed mailing envelope. Scott led the landmark Discovery expedition of 1901-1904, carrying out important scientific research and geographical exploration of the Antarctic regions.
Although publicly civil, Scott and Shackleton held a rivalry throughout their careers, with much of their animosity arising from claims that Shackleton refused to concede to Scott the old McMurdo Sound base as his headquarters. He eventually did adhere to the request, but only temporarily; during the Nimrod expedition of 1909, Scott and crew, by reason of logic and self-preservation, were forced to head towards the Discovery's old base, much to the vexation of Scott and the British polar establishment at the time. Handwritten letters from Scott are exceedingly rare, with this example all the more desirable given its mention of both the Discovery and Shackleton.
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