Antarctica, South America, 1903-1904. Three (3) photographic postcards made in Buenos Aires illustrate the successful rescue of Otto Nordenskjold's Swedish Antarctic Expedition by the Argentine relief expedition led by Captain Irizar with the Uruguay (1903-1904), as well as a little-known simultaneous expedition which had set out to Antarctica with the same purpose. Postcards measure approximately 14 x 9.5 cm, each printed with Spanish captions, and individually mounted with clear corners onto a cardstock leaf. Postally not used; two are in original condition as published; one bears the stamp of the Lloyd Sabaudo shipping line. Very Good Condition. These rare picture postcards relate to the Antarctic rescue efforts by both Sweden and Argentina to locate and safely bring home members of Otto Nordenskjold's Swedish South Polar Expedition (1901-1904). One of these is the successful rescue made by the Argentine Relief Expedition in December 1903, led by Captain Irizar aboard the corvette ARA 'Uruguay'. The other is a far lesser known but valiant attempt made by the Swedish Navy; it too would have saved the men if not for Uruguay having arrived but a few weeks earlier. The postcards illustrate the following: • The deck of Norwegian whaling ship 'Frithjof' at Buenos Aires with Captain K.H. Olof F. Glydén and crew onboard, laden with supplies, and preparing for the departure of the little-known Swedish Relief Expedition (1903-1904). Perhaps of special interest for being generally forgotten, the Swedish navy also undertook their own Relief Expedition, departing from Sweden 18 August 1903. The vessel was almost shipwrecked on its voyage, and upon arriving at Snow Hill on December 4th, Captain Glydén found that 'Uruguay' had already made the rescue. Postcard No. 53 from 'La Nación' series. • The Argentine Navy's corvette 'Uruguay' and her crew, commanded by Captain Irizar, departing from Buenos Aires in November 1903 with civilians crowding the shore to bid farewell. [At the same time, rescue expeditions were made by the Swedish and the French, but this Argentinean expedition was the one to successfully rescue Nordenskjöld's two surviving Antarctic parties.] Postcard No. 16 from 'La Nación' series. • A cameo portrait of Argentinean Lieutenant Commander Julián Irizar (1869-1935), in the background his ship is navigating Antarctic waters to make the resuce. Leading the Argentine Relief Expedition, Irizar aboard the corvette ARA Uruguay sailed from Buenos Aires in November 1903 and within one month had most fortuitously met with the stranded Swedish explorers, all but one person having survived two long Antarctic winters. The Swedish Antarctic expeditionary party, led by Swedish geologist Nils Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928), left Gothenburg aboard the aptly named 'Antarctic' on October 16th, 1901, with Norwegian Captain Carl Anton Larsen (1860-1924) at the helm. The ship went on to Buenos Aires, arriving on the 15th of December 1901, where Nordenskjöld received an offer of food, fuel and help from the Argentinean government if the ship took an Argentinean naval officer José Sobral with them; he was also to be a part of the wintering party. They went on via the Falkland Islands sighting King George Island in the South Shetlands on the 10th of January 1902. [Alferez Sobral became the first Argentinean to step on Antarctic territories.] Enduring two long winters on the Antarctic Peninsula, this is a story of resilience and survival, scientific discovery in hostile conditions, as well as international cooperation. Despite the hardships, the expedition was considered a scientific success, having explored much of the eastern coast of Graham Land. Only one man perished. The successful rescue of Otto Nordenskjold's Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904 was made by the Argentine Relief Expedition led by Captain Irizar aboard the corvette ARA Uruguay, in November 1903.
