John Wilson Danenhower (1849-1887); U.S. Navy officer and explorer: 2 albumen full length portraits in Winter gear and eye protectors with an ink dedication to back dated St Patricks' Day 1883 to Mlle Nellie Sloan in French as a souvenir of friendship of a glacial sea wolf. The two images framed together and taped into gilt double mat behind glass front and acrylic backing. Height of each photo 7 1/2 inches (19 cm.) X width of each 3 1/2 inches (8.8 cm.). NOTE: In 1879, Danenhower was on the Arctic expedition aboard the U.S.S. Jeanette (commanded by George Washington De Long) when the ship became caught in an ice pack near the Siberian coast. Trapped for two years, the ship was finally crushed by the ice after the crew escaped to Siberia. Danenhower, his sight nearly blinded by syphilis, had fifteen eye operations for syphilitic iritis on shipboard without anesthetics. Of the original thirty-three-member crew, only thirteen, including Danenhower, survived. De Long was among those who died. Danenhower, who did not reach home until 1882, published a book about the disastrous mission. He was a suicide in 1887.

With age related wear to the photographs, not examined out of frame. NOTE: Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Eddie's Auction shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging