Antique Framed Harpers Weekly Print: The Greely Relief Expedition Bear Thetis

Antique Framed Harper’s Weekly Print: The Greely Relief Expedition – "Bear" & "Thetis"

Item: #4330

Own a captivating piece of 19th-century maritime and Arctic exploration history. This beautifully preserved engraving from Harper’s Weekly illustrates the intense preparations for the Greely Relief Expedition at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Drawn by the renowned maritime artist J.O. Davidson, the print features a detailed composite of the famous rescue ships, the Bear and the Thetis, alongside ship cross-sections, naval equipment, and portraits of key figures.

This historic illustration is professionally mounted with a generous 2 ½” white mat and housed in a classic, rich dark wood frame. It is the perfect statement piece for collectors of nautical history, antique maps and prints, or anyone fascinated by the harrowing tales of Arctic exploration.

Product Details:

• Source: Harper’s Weekly (Late 19th Century)

• Artist: Drawn by J.O. Davidson

• Subject: The Greely Relief Expedition - The Bear & The Thetis at the Brooklyn Navy Yard

• Frame: Solid dark wood (cherry finish)

• Overall Frame Dimensions: 22 ½" L x 28 ½" W

• Print Dimensions: 20 ¾” W x 14 ¾” L

• Matting: 2 ½" white border

• Condition: Excellent antique condition, beautifully framed and ready to hang. (Add any specific notes about frame wear or print aging here).

Historical Context

The Greely Expedition (The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition)

In 1881, First Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely led a 25-man team on the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, a joint military and scientific venture to the Canadian Arctic. Their mission was to establish a meteorological observation station and collect astronomical and magnetic data. While the team successfully achieved many scientific goals—and even broke the record for reaching the "Farthest North" at the time—tragedy struck when resupply ships failed to reach them through the thick ice in both 1882 and 1883.

Facing starvation, the men retreated south to Cape Sabine, where they overwintered in horrific conditions. By the time a rescue party finally reached them in June 1884, only Greely and five of his men had survived the brutal cold, starvation, and desperation.

The Relief Ships: USS Bear and USS Thetis

When the United States realized the desperate plight of Greely's men, a massive relief effort was organized under the command of Commander Winfield Scott Schley in 1884. The U.S. Navy purchased two rugged Scottish whaling and sealing ships, specifically built to withstand crushing Arctic ice.

• The Bear: Originally built in Scotland in 1874, the Bear was purchased by the U.S. government for the rescue. After successfully rescuing the Greely survivors, the Bear went on to have a legendary 80-year career, primarily serving in the United States Revenue Cutter Service (the precursor to the Coast Guard) patrolling Alaskan waters.

• The Thetis: Like the Bear, the Thetis was a Scottish sealer bought by the Navy for the 1884 relief mission. She served as the flagship of the rescue squadron. Following the Greely expedition, the Thetis also enjoyed a long maritime career, operating as a gunboat and a revenue cutter in the treacherous waters of the North Pacific and Arctic.