Noel and Everest Expedition stereocards

[Michael Pritchard]

The following item is coming up for auction in New York:  EVEREST, NEPAL AND TIBET. NOEL, JOHN. 1890-1989. Group of 53 stereoscopic silver gelatin prints, c.1924, generally 5 3/8 x 2 7/8 inches and 5 1/2 x 3 inches, most mounted on card, many with typed captions on reverse, several with typed label "Photo Capt. Noel" and one with label "Photo by Capt. J.B. Noel, F.R.G.S., Official Photographer to the Everest Expedition 1924" on reverse, one image obscured by soiling, minor soiling to a few others.

A remarkable gathering of photographs representing the work of Captain John Noel, explorer, filmmaker, and mountaineer, and official photographer to Mallory's fated 1924 Everest Expedition. One photograph shows a porter starting to climb the North Col by a rope ladder installed by Howard Somervell probably during his 1922 expedition. Another image shows"Everest from the Seracs, showing the 1,000 ft. high shoulder which still remains to be climbed." In all, there are 7 stereo views of Everest. The other photographs document Noel's extensive travels through Tibet, Nepal, India (Golconda, Seringapatam, Hyderabad), and the Pacific, and include views of palaces and monasteries (the entrance to Khampa Dzong, a reception at Pemayangtse Monastery, Rongbuk Monastery), Tibetan musicians and dancers, a customized Citroen with tractor tread, firewalkers, Mysore royal elephants, and a hunting party probably with the Maharajah of Sikkim.

See here for more information: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?screen=lotdetails&iSaleItemNo=5010362&iSaleNo=19421&iSaleSectionNo=1

Noel's cameras and other material was sold by Christie's some years ago. See: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/una-tropical-hand-camera/4485289/lot/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4485289&sid=818708e1-b023-475e-9e55-5b64d1c1c557