REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED CHECK 05/07/1932 - HFSID 75883

RICHARD E. BYRD.Check signed: "RE Byrd", 6x2½. Winchester, Virginia, 1932 May 7. Check No. 361 (check number written in Byrd's hand), drawn on Farmers & Merchants National Bank & Trust Co., payable to Kidder Peabody Trust Co. for $500. Signed the year before Byrd made his second trip to Antarctica (1933-1935). Byrd had hoped to return to the southern polar region in the Fall of 1932, but lack of funding and supplies delayed his departure. There were a number of "firsts" on his second expedition: the first use of automotive transportation, the first human voices were transmitted from Little America (February 1, 1934), cosmic ray and meteor observations were made for the first time from such high southern latitudes and Little America was provided with power by motor-driven generating plants. On May 9, 1926, Richard Evelyn Byrd (1888-1957) and Floyd Bennett became the first to fly over the North Pole. Both were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Scholars have raised questions about whether or not Byrd actually reached the North Pole but all have agreed Byrd thought he had reached the North Pole. In 1929, Byrd established the "Little America" Antarctica base and flew over the South Pole. He was promoted to Rear Admiral upon his return in 1930. On his Antarctic expeditions in the 1930s, Byrd discovered Marie Byrd Land and the Edsel Ford Mountains. Still exploring in his late 60s, he commanded the Operation High Jump (1946-1947) and Operation Deep Freeze (1955-1956) operations. Ink smudged beneath signature. Slightly soiled. Light paper clip impression at lower left margin. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 21¾x15¾.