[BYRD, Richard Evelyn (1888-1957)]. An original glass bottle intended for scientific research for Byrd's first Antarctic Expedition 1928-29.

Embossed glass bottle (5 ½” tall) with an airplane design above the inscription “Byrd Antarctic 1928-1929 Expedition”; shadowbox framed (overall, 9x 5”). Byrd ordered 500 of these specially embossed bottles from the Owens Bottle Company in Toledo, specifically for his 1928-29 expedition. These bottles containing a note describing the scientific data and details of the expeditions' progress and position were cast into the sea at various points and once recovered, the recorded position would give invaluable information concerning the intensity and direction of various currents in the southern waters.

[With:] an ALS from Richard W. Konter on “Little America” letterhead, dated 19 February 1930, sent directly from “the most southerly town and post-office in the world”, old folds and repairs (framed, overall 11 ½ x 9 ½”). Konter, known as “Ukulele Dick”, joined Byrd's 1926 Arctic expedition to fly over the North Pole with the intention of teaching the native people. Konter, a notable ukulele player, hid his instrument in the back of the Josephine Ford flown by Byrd, so that he could claim to own the first ukulele flown over the North Pole. Konter would again join Byrd, this time in Antarctica in 1928-30, officially listed as chief radioman and recreation office. Konter promised over 800 people that he would write to them from Antarctica aboard the ship City of New York, which was anchored outside the base “Little America”, on the Ross Ice Shelf approximately 800 miles from the South Pole. In his letter, Konter mentions a “little souvenir of the expedition” which he is most likely referring to the glass bottle mentioned above as the two of these items were from the same collection.