REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 12/11/1931 - HFSID 87377

RICHARD E. BYRD
The famed polar explorer signs a letter to "Bim", discussing lectures, and stating that he will not be able to visit the Victor plant in Camden, New Jersey
Typed letter signed: "Dick", in black ink, 1 page, 8½x11. Boston, Massachusetts. December 11, 1931. In full: "My dear Bim: I am enclosing a check for $125.00 for Leo [item not included]. You know best about the commission basis so I will withdraw that suggestion. I believe that Mac can probably book all the lectures that I can handle. That is, with your correspondence and regular men, such as Naylor, booking lectures. No, I am afraid I will not have time to visit the Victor plant at Camden. Tell them I will explain why when I seem them. I will leave for Camden on a morning train that will get me there in time to go to the luncheon. I will probably come to New York the day before. Sincerely yours". 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 (indisputably) 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. JAMES B. POND ("Bim"), who had become the nation's premier lecture agent, had established his agency in New York in 1879. In addition to Byrd, his notable clients included Mark Twain, P.T. Barnum, Thomas Nast, James Whitcomb Riley, Henry Stanley and Booker T. Washington. Normal mailing folds. Hole in top left corner. Ink stamp. Pencil note (unknown hand). Fine condition.