Figurehead of the Terra Nova, 1912 (colour litho)

Built as a whaling ship and launched in 1884; used by Captain Scott for his second and final expedition to the Antarctic in 1910; Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912), British Royal Naval officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic Regions; a ship's figurehead embodied the spirit of a ship and was originally believed to placate the gods of the sea and ensure a safe voyage; female figureheads were especially popular, as according to the superstitions of seamen, although women on board a ship were thought to be unlucky, a female figurehead would help to calm a storm at sea; from a series of illustrations of figureheads produced as cigarette cards by Players;