784. RICHARD E. BYRD (1888 - 1957) American aviator and explorer, first to fly over the South Pole and established the base "Little America". A fine grouping of a letter and a relic, includes a T.L.S. "R. E. Byrd" on his personal letterhead, 1p. 4to., Boston, Nov. 23, 1936 to Philadelphia Boy Scout leader Dr. Charles D. Hart mentioning his thanks for having sent a contribution to Byrd's "Antarctic Expedition". Byrd also mentions having sent a piece of parchment with "Öa piece of the insulation used in the Advance Meteorological BaseÖ". Fine condition. Sold with the mentioned parchment and relic, the parchment printed with text in Byrd's hand expressing his thanks for support which allowed him to: "Ömap and take possession of thousands of square miles of new territory for the United States. Attached to this sheet is an autographed piece of insulation from the wall of the Advance Meteorological Base, the southernmost habitation ever occupiedÖ". Detached from the parchment (but present) is a 1 1/2" x 1" piece of aluminum-covered insulation, the verso signed by Byrd: "R. E. Byrd". Fine condition. On Byrd's second expedition to Antarctica, in 1934, he spent five winter months alone operating a meteorological station, the Advance Base, from which he narrowly escaped with his life after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from a poorly-ventilated stove. $250 - 350