Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain

A WARM WELCOME to our website, from myself and all the Committee.It is very pleasing to take another step forward in promoting our Society and hobby. Not only widening its appeal, making it easier to join or find information, but most importantly perhaps, have a forum for all members, established or new, to have a 2 way communication with us and each other.I hope you will browse the site, especially the EVENTS page, and see the attractions we can add to your special area of interest – and if you do not find it, tell us. Better still, contact the POLAR POST EDITOR John Youle who is pleased to receive articles to enhance knowledge, pose questions, or simply provide an interesting philatelic story.While I personally specialise in the Scott/Shackleton Expeditions, of the Heroic Age, the rest of the Committee equally show the diverse collecting interests of members generally, from modern Indian Antarctic bases to Whaling mail and studies of cancellations and Expedition Postcards to Thematic or Social History, both North and South.Over the years this diversity has expanded the appeal to collectors from all around the World. Newer subjects such as old Photos, QSL cards, Literature, original letters and maps, now all catch members’ attention.This diversity means we are in touch with most collectors’ sphere of interest and can point enquiries in the right direction.We thus act as a broader fulcrum for collectors who may also have specialist society memberships such as Scandinavian or Thematic where we embrace such interests.If you are interested in either or both of the Polar Regions, North and South, please try us out – the Application form can be downloaded from this site.Please specify your range of interests on the Application, but whatever they are, you will receive a sample past copy of Polar Post on joining, and shared enthusiasm.Welcome again!

Note to all readers: In March 2012, all 2011 entries on our “HOME PAGE” will be transferred to the “ARCHIVE” page. At the same time information on the current “ARCHIVE” page may have to be deleted to make memory available starting with the oldest (2009) information.

22nd to 25th February 2012 - Spring Stampex (Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH): Trevor Cornford, Chairman of the PPHSGB, will be displaying five frames of “Shackleton” material at this event. Please check the programme when available close to the date for further Polar displays. Please note that Spring Stampex and Spring Philatex do not take place simultaneously this year (Spring Philatex takes place from 19th to 21st April 2012).

16th January 2012 – AAT - Official Celebration at Mawson’s Huts Cape Denison, Antarctica, commemorating the arrival of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Douglas Mawson: Thanks to the presence of a large iceberg B-09B access this season to the Mawson’s Huts has been difficult. The official delegation to celebrate Mawson’s arrival at the location on 8th January 1912 was finally transported by helicopter from the Aurora Australis to the huts on 14th and 16th January. Full details of the event can be found in the ABC News Blog by Karen Barlow at:http://blogs.abc.net.au/news/in-mawsons-footsteps/

Peter Cranwell is selling philatelic material relating to the Expedition’s Centenary on behalf of ‘The Mawson’s Huts Foundation’ in 2 to 3 stages. The first stage relating to the departure of the Expedition from Hobart on 2nd December 1911 and the Establishment of the radio base on Macquarie Island on 11th December 1911 is already on sale. Details are available at:
http://www.petespolarplace.com/mawsons-huts-centenary.htm

17th /18th January 2012 / 2nd February 2012: The Royal Mail (UK) will commemorate the Centenary of the arrival of Robert Falcon Scott’s Party at the Geographical South Pole by including a first class stamp showing the party at the South Pole in the “Age of the Windsors” souvenir sheet to be issued on 2nd February 2012. The stamp is only available as part of the souvenir sheet. The illustration is taken from the December 2011 issue of the Royal Mail Philatelic Bulletin.

Several Scott related First Day of Issue cancellations are expected to be announced in the UK. Germany is honouring Scott with a special postmark to be used in Kiel on 17th January 2012.

And what were the exact dates and times of day when Amundsen followed by Scott reached the Geographical South Pole? Well the world is divided into time zones and there is an International Date Line. At the Geographical North and South Poles all lines of longitude meet. There are always two dates on earth and at the Poles you can choose between the dates. Thus various sources quote 14th or 15th December 1911 for Amundsen and 17th or 18th January for Scott. Although the base camps were relatively close together, they were on opposite sides of the International Date Line (180° east/west). Sadly most historical references do not include a time zone reference when quoting times and dates.

2nd January 2012: TAAF Annual Issue: Three souvenir sheets and 12 further stamps form the 2012 TAAF yearly issue. One of the souvenir sheets entitled “Development of Air Transport in Polar Regions” is illustrated. All the designs in colour will eventually be available at:
http://www.taaf.fr/rubriques/philatelie/timbres/philatelie_timbres.htm

23rd December 2011 – TAAF 50^th Anniversary of Baie du Marin – Crozet. A pair of 60c stamps was issued as illustrated.

16th December 2011: Stefan Heijtz has made a number of his collections available for free download in PDF format at:http://www.novastamps.com/stefan/Sidor/AboutMe.html

Most of the PDF files relate to material of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies prior to 1937 but there are two which will be of interest to Antarctic collectors as follows:

South Georgia Glass Plates from the 1920's-30's: This 57 page display shows photographs taken by Theodor Andersson, mostly of Grytviken but also of some of the other whaling stations, and it shows interesting views of how life was in those days. A PDF of the entire display can be downloaded HERE (size 12 MB).

The Swedish South Polar Expedition 1901-1903: A remarkable 206 page collection of mail to and from expedition members, as well as documents and postcards related to the expedition. This is the largest and best collection of this expedition ever formed, and it contains a large number of rare expedition covers. A PDF of the entire collection can be downloaded HERE (size 17 MB).

14^th/15^th December 2011 – Centenary of the first attainment of the Geographical South Pole:A Norwegian party of five consisting of Roald Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting reached the Geographical South Pole.

2^nd December 2011: TAAF/France: A further out of programme TAAF stamp was issued on 2^nd December. It shows Adélie Penguins and has a value of 60c. The design is the same as that on a stamp representing TAAF in a self-adhesive booklet issued by France to mark “2011 – Year of Overseas Territories”.

28^th November 2011: The Royal Navy’s recently leased ice patrol ship HMS Protector left Portsmouth for her first a seven month deployment in Antarctica. She will use her multi-beam echo sounder and deploy her survey motor boat to provide cutting-edge hydrographical charting and imagery of the Antarctic region for the UK Hydrographic Office. The ship will also assist with the re-supply of British Antarctic Survey stations in the region. This photograph was taken by member Terry Lay on 23rd May 2011 when the ship first arrived in Portsmouth.

27^th November 2011: The ashes of Frank Wild were interred on the right-hand side of Shackleton’s grave in Grytviken, South Georgia. The inscription on the rough-hewn granite gravestone reads “Frank Wild 1873-1939, Shackleton’s right-hand man”. Wild’s relatives, Shackleton’s granddaughter, the Hon Alexandra Shackleton, cruise ship passengers and staff at the nearby BAS Base at King Edward Point attended a service in the wooden Norwegian Church conducted by the Rev Dr Richard Hines, rector of the Falkland Islands.

21^stNovember 2011- Important Note to members:

The editor of Polar Post has just heard that the Postal Auction List N°65, April 2012, will not be available in time for despatch with the December 2011 issue of Polar Post. Thus the Postal Auction List is NOT enclosed with the December issue. The auction has been postponed until later in 2012. The December issue together with the other enclosures will be despatched between 21^st and 28^thNovember.

17^th November 2011:
BAT: The RRS Ernest Shackleton is slightly behind the schedule published in the September 2011 Polar Post. The ship is now expected to reach Cape Town on 10^th December. The first visit to Halley is planned for 29^th December to 7^th January.

BAT: The first two members of the UKAHT Trust team arrived at Port Lockroy on 5^th November and the post office is now up and running for the season. You can follow events on the UKAHT Website (see Links page).

BAT: The RRS James Clark Ross arrived at Signy on 16^th November 2011 and Hugh Marsden, this season’s Antarctic Postman, released all three BAT new issues on 17^th November.

TAAF: Two further out of programme issues have been announced for 3^rd November 2011 and 16^th December 2011. The 3^rd November issue is a joint issue with St Pierre et Miquelon and comprises a €1.10 souvenir sheet depicting the destroyer Forbin which has visited St Pierre et Miquelon and Kerguelen. The issue of 16^th December commemorates the 50^th Anniversary of the Crozet postal service and comprises 2x60c stamps (the exact format is not yet known).

AAT: All 4 Mawson’s Huts Foundation Macquarie Island Radio Mast covers as advertised on the 2011 Index pages of the Enclosure document to be despatched with the December Polar Post have already sold out. The overprinted m/s, the postcards and the DVD are still available from Peter Cranwell.

UK & Australia: The new Wildlife Documentary TV series “The Frozen Planet” (see BAT and South Georgia recent new issues) is currently showing to rave reviews from the UK press. The complete series of 7 programmes will be released on Blu-Ray Disk™ and DVD on 8^th December 2011 in the UK with a commentary in English by Sir David Attenborough. Those in other territories will have to wait until 2012 to see the series and the final programme relating to Global Warming may not be transmitted in all territories. Apparently the US Discovery Channel will show an edited combination of programmes 6 and 7.

6th November 2011: The Society Weekend in Cambridge was a great success with 33 members and partners in residence and several more attending on a daily basis. A report is given on the ‘Residential Weekends' page and in the December 2011 issue of Polar Post.

The Antarctic summer season is in full swing and the RRS James Clark Ross has already visited South Georgia. She has on board the BAT Antarctic ‘postman' Hugh Marsden who will release three BAT new issues around 16-18 November 2011 at the BAS summer only base Signy. Indeed there are several new issues to report as follows in reverse date order:

Early January 2012: French Southern and Antarctic Territory annual issues 2012. The full details are not yet available but here is one of the stamps.

25th November 2011: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands - Frank Wild 1873-1939.

16th-18th November 2011: BAT – Royal Research Ships (not shown – RRS Bransfield x 2; RRS Ernest Shackleton x 2 and RRS James Clark Ross x 2 plus a souvenir sheet of the launch of RRS James Clark Ross); Frozen Planet (not shown; two sheetlets); Antarctic Science (one of three sheetlets is shown). In total there are 39 different stamps in the 2011 issues!

Further details are available at:

http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/ross-dependency/2011/race-pole

The Mawson’s Huts Foundation has produced a further overprinted AAT Macquarie Island souvenir sheet, a set of four covers, a set of Postcards and a DVD relating to the recovery of the remains of the radio masts used at Macquarie Island during Mawson’s 1911-1913 Expedition, the first in Antarctica to have radio communication. Full details can be found on the website of Peter Cranwell at:

http://www.petespolarplace.com/

15^th September 2011 - New Issue - South Georgia and SSI - Frozen Planet: This issue is timed to be released to coincide with start of the Documentary Series ‘The Frozen Planet' on BBC1. The four stamps (Elephant Seal; Wandering Albatross; Blonde Fur Seal Pup; King Penguin) are individually printed in sheets of four with pictorial surrounds relating to the four seasons. There is also a souvenir sheet.

Further details will be available in September at: http://falklandstamps.com/

1^st September 2011- Society News and other news: The September 2011 Polar Post was despatched in mid August and most members should have received their copies by now.

A revised version of the addendum to the book “Postmarks and Cachets of the British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia” updated to 1st September 2011 is now available for download on the “Publications” page.

The next update is planned for the end of the 2011/2012 Antarctic summer season in May 2012.The PDF colour file of Steve Allen’s display “Airships in the Arctic” is still available for download. The link can be found on the “Archived News” page under the second item dated “29th July 2010”.

The Society regrets to announce the passing of Godfrey Mellor who was a long term member of the PPHSGB. He was a keen Tristan Da Cunha collector and regularly gave displays to Philatelic Societies.

It is planned to rebury the ashes of Frank Wild on 27th November 2011 next to the grave of Shackleton in the cemetery at Grytviken, South Georgia. Frank Wild is one of only two people to be awarded the Polar Medal with four bars; he took part in five Antarctic Expeditions including three led by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

30^th August 2011 - New Issue - Australia / AAT / Cocos (Keeling) Islands / Christmas Island - Joint Territories Issue - 50 Years World Wide Fund for Nature (World Wildlife Fund): The se-tenant strip of four stamps depicts the Quokka (Australia), the Southern Elephant Seal (AAT), the Dugong (Cocos (Keeling) Islands) and the C.I. Shrew (Christmas Island). The stamps are also available as se-tenant blocks of four in four different mini sheets, one for each territory. This information is taken from the Stamp Bulletin of Australia Post, July/August 2011, pages 18 & 19. For further details or to buy the stamps please go from the date of issue to http://shop.auspost.com.au/

10^th August 2011 - New Issue - South Georgia and SSI - Petrels by the artist John Gale

For further details or to buy the stamps please go to: http://falklandstamps.com/

3^rd August 2011: Booking via Bil Tilbury for the PPHSGB Residential Weekend in Cambridge from 16^th to 18^th September 2011 is now closed. Any member still wishing to attend for the whole weekend should contact the Royal Cambridge Hotel directly. The special room price can no longer be guaranteed. http://www.theroyalcambridgehotel.co.uk/

Further information for day visitors can be found on page 84 of the September 2011 Polar Post.

2^nd August 2011 - New Issue - AAT - Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914. Australia Post has issued the first of a four part series as a se-tenant strip of five 60c stamps in both sheet and Souvenir format.

25^th July 2011 - South Georgia and SSI - Royal Wedding: Three stamps and a souvenir sheet were issued showing photographs taken during the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton (the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). For further details or to buy the stamps please go to: http://falklandstamps.com/

2nd July 2011 (Saturday) - MIDPEX: The PPHSGB will have a table at this event which takes place from 10am to 4.30pm at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, The Fosse, Fosse Way, Leamington Spa, CV31 1XN.

23rdJune 2011 (50th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty): The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that the M/V Polarbjørn launched 2001 will be commissioned at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard under the name HMS Protector to act as Antarctic Ice Patrol Ship for three years as a replacement for HMS Endurance. The vessel has been leased from the Rieber Shipping Company, Bergen, Norway.

11th June 2011 (Saturday) - SWINPEX: The Stamp Fair will be held at St Joseph's Catholic College, Ocotal Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR from 10am. The PPHSGB will hold a joint meeting with the FIPSG from 1.30pm.

1st June 2011: Planned date of issue of Polar Post, June 2011. A piece of late information missed this issue. Our member Frank G. Mitchell sadly passed away during the last week of April 2011. His funeral took place on 3rd May 2011 and was restricted to family members only. Frank was a committee member of the PPHSGB from 1993 to 2009.

29th April 2011: The Falkland Islands issued at very short notice a £2 stamp commemorating the Wedding of Miss Catherine Middleton and HRH Prince William of Wales. The information arrived too late for an illustration of the stamp to be included in the June issue of Polar Post. For further details please go to http://falklandstamps.com/

24th March 2011 - Harmers of London Auction N° 4789 - 13.00: Lots 453 to 509 relate to the Falkland Islands and Dependencies with a selection of covers from Operation Tabarin (Lots 456-481) and South Georgia. Lot 453 is a proof of the 1928 2½d on 2d South Georgia provisional estimated at £10,000. Lot 492 is a postcard sent by the 2nd post from South Georgia cancelled with F4D dated JY 31 10, estimate £4,500 and Lot 496 is a scarce local cover bearing the 2-line cachet QUEST / R.Y.S. cancelled with SG1 dated C MY 5 22, estimate £2,500.

23rd March 2011 - Harmers of London Auction N° 4789 - 13.00: Lots 102 to 127 relate to material from Antarctic Expeditions. The star item is Lot 112, a card from the 2nd French Antarctic Expedition bearing the "Pourquoi Pas?" blue label and Chilean stamps cancelled at Punta Arenas, Estimate £5,000. Other lots include items from both Scott Expeditions 1901-1904 and 1910-13, Shackleton's 1907-1909 Nimrod Expedition, and items from the 2nd German Antarctic Expedition 1911-1913 cancelled at South Georgia including two bearing the scarce "Paid at/At South Georgia" hand stamp.

The catalogue for Auction N°4789 is available at: http://www.harmers.com/catalogue/4789/

15th March 2011: New Issue - South Georgia & SSI - The Pioneering Work of Sir Alister Hardy. Sir Alister Clavering Hardy (1896-1985) was an eminent marine biologist famous for his work on plankton and fisheries, but also an accomplished artist, inventor and writer of popular science. From 1924 to 1927 he was Chief Zoologist to the Discovery Investigations which had a land base, Discovery House, at King Edward Point, South Georgia.

Details of this issue will become available at http://falklandstamps.com/

7th January 2011: ‘Portsmouth Today' reports that the Royal Navy has put out a tender for an icebreaker to replace HMS Endurance which has been in Portsmouth Dockyard since April 2009 awaiting repairs. It seems that the Royal Navy has a particular ship in mind. Portsmouth News also reports that the replacement will be named HMS Protector.
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/hms_protector_will_be_endurance_replacement_1_2358055
HMS Scott is currently in the South Atlantic replacing HMS Endurance for the second Antarctic Summer Season in a row.

4th January 2011: New Stamp Issues TAAF. 12 individual stamps and 1 souvenir sheet were issued.

1st January 2011: After holding the Membership Subscriptions unchanged for 14 years, the PPHSGB has new annual rates from 1st January 2011, the main reason for the changes being the substantially increased postage costs for sending out Polar Post.

The new rates are:UK (All destinations to which Internal UK 1st and 2nd Class rates apply): £15.
All other destinations in EUROPE and WORLD WIDE: £20 (This includes the Republic of Ireland).

Those members with UK Bank Accounts who pay by Standing Order are reminded to inform their bank of the change in rate by 1st December 2010. A form suitable for this purpose was enclosed with the June 2010 issue of Polar Post.