Editor’s Note: This article was updated with the final sale price and other details following the auction’s conclusion.
London, UK CNN —Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition to the Arctic captivated the Victorian public with its mysterious disappearance, fruitless rescue missions and gory tales of cannibalism.
Commissioned by Franklin’s wife, Jane, this set of daguerreotypes — the first successful form of photography — represents the last ever photographs taken of the 14 men and was assumed to be lost until now.
Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated Arctic expedition, taken from a painting by W. Thomas Smith exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1896.
But after two years without contact from the expedition, Lady Franklin pushed the Admiralty in London to send a search party.
Persons:
John Franklin’s, Franklin, Sir John Franklin, Emily Bierman, Franklin’s, Jane, Sir John Franklin's, Thomas Smith, Shutterstock, Lady Franklin, ” Bierman, ”, Bierman, “, John Rae, Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, Ciarán Hinds
Organizations:
UK CNN, CNN, Royal Academy, Admiralty, Illustrated London, HMS, AMC
Locations:
London, UK, Scottish