UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ARCHIVE OF NUCLEAR SUBMARINE USS NAUTILUS JOURNEY BENEATH THE NORTH POLE, AUGUST 3, 1958, INCLUDING NAUTILUS’S ICONIC FLAG OF VOYAGE.

Few maritime exploits in history had so startled the world as the silent and secret transpolar voyage of the US Navy’s nuclear submarine Nautilus. This event was the beginning of nuclear arms race that wrote American history for the next few decades. On July 23, 1958, NAUTILUS departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii under top secret orders to conduct “Operation Sunshine”, the first crossing of the North Pole by a ship. At 11:15pm on August 3, 1958, Nautilus’ Commanding Officer, Commander William R. Anderson, announced to his crew, “For the world, our country, and the Navy – the North Pole.” With 116 men aboard, Nautilus had accomplished the “impossible”, reaching the geographic North Pole – 90 degrees North. Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885-February 20, 1966) was a Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet for U.S. naval forces and commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas for the U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II. Nimitz was the leading U.S. Navy authority on submarines. Qualified in submarines during his early years, he later oversaw the conversion of these vessels’ propulsion from gasoline to diesel, and then later was key in acquiring approval to build the worlds’ first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus. No wonder he was given these rare objects by Commander Anderson. This archive includes a small US flag inscribed on hoist: “THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY THE SKIPPER OF THE USS NAUTILUS SSN 571 AFTER HER NORTH POLE RUN 3 AUG 1958″ signed by C.W. Nimitz. Attached to the hoist forward of presentation was one of Nimitz’ sterling silver Fleet Admiral insignias. This regulation boat flag measures 16-1/2″ on hoist and 32-3/4” on fly. Flag on opposite of hoist is stenciled “US NO 12 M1 44”. Also in the archive are two embroidered insignia, one being a 5″ x 5″ square unit patch for the Nautilus, identical to the one worn by Commander Anderson as pictured on cover of September 1, 1958 LIFE Magazine, and a 6″ round commemorative patch memorializing the journey beneath the North Pole. Also included in archive is an 8″ x 11″ image of the Nautilus showing a small American flag aft of conning tower and a contemporary matchbook cover depicting the Nautilus insignia. A little more research should be able to ascertain who Nimitz gave this grouping to as all we know from the inscription is “Ken”. Ken must be an important person in Nimitz’ career to have been given these valuable and historic souvenirs. PROVENANCE: Chester W. Nimitz (February 24, 1885-Feburary 20, 1966); Ex-collection Dr. John Reckless, Durham, NC. CONDITION: Very good overall. 51200-1 (7,000-9,000) – Lot 2512

Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - Winter 2017

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2512	$6,050.00	UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ARCHIVE OF NUCLEAR SUBMARINE USS NAUTILUS JOURNEY BENEATH THE NORTH POLE, AUGUST 3, 1958, INCLUDING NAUTILUS’S ICONIC FLAG OF VOYAGE. Few maritime exploits in history had so startled the world as the silent and secret transpolar voyage of the US Navy’s nuclear submarine Nautilus. This event was the beginning of nuclear arms race that wrote American history for the next few decades. On July 23, 1958, NAUTILUS departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii under top secret orders to conduct “Operation Sunshine”, the first crossing of the North Pole by a ship. At 11:15pm on August 3, 1958, Nautilus’ Commanding Officer, Commander William R. Anderson, announced to his crew, “For the world, our country, and the Navy – the North Pole.” With 116 men aboard, Nautilus had accomplished the “impossible”, reaching the geographic North Pole – 90 degrees North. Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885-February 20, 1966) was a Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet for U.S. naval forces and commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas for the U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II. Nimitz was the leading U.S. Navy authority on submarines. Qualified in submarines during his early years, he later oversaw the conversion of these vessels’ propulsion from gasoline to diesel, and then later was key in acquiring approval to build the worlds’ first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus. No wonder he was given these rare objects by Commander Anderson. This archive includes a small US flag inscribed on hoist: “THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY THE SKIPPER OF THE USS NAUTILUS SSN 571 AFTER HER NORTH POLE RUN 3 AUG 1958″ signed by C.W. Nimitz. Attached to the hoist forward of presentation was one of Nimitz’ sterling silver Fleet Admiral insignias. This regulation boat flag measures 16-1/2″ on hoist and 32-3/4” on fly. Flag on opposite of hoist is stenciled “US NO 12 M1 44”. Also in the archive are two embroidered insignia, one being a 5″ x 5″ square unit patch for the Nautilus, identical to the one worn by Commander Anderson as pictured on cover of September 1, 1958 LIFE Magazine, and a 6″ round commemorative patch memorializing the journey beneath the North Pole. Also included in archive is an 8″ x 11″ image of the Nautilus showing a small American flag aft of conning tower and a contemporary matchbook cover depicting the Nautilus insignia. A little more research should be able to ascertain who Nimitz gave this grouping to as all we know from the inscription is “Ken”. Ken must be an important person in Nimitz’ career to have been given these valuable and historic souvenirs. PROVENANCE: Chester W. Nimitz (February 24, 1885-Feburary 20, 1966); Ex-collection Dr. John Reckless, Durham, NC. CONDITION: Very good overall. 51200-1 (7,000-9,000) – Lot 2512 Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - Winter 2017 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ARCHIVE OF NUCLEAR SUBMARINE USS NAUTILUS JOURNEY BENEATH THE NORTH POLE, AUGUST 3, 1958, INCLUDING NAUTILUS’S ICONIC FLAG OF VOYAGE.