Twenty Years of almost Continuous Activity at the South Pole 19.10.1968

Although the existence of a southern continent had been hypothesized as early as the writings of Ptolemy in the 1st century AD, the South Pole was not reached until 1911. On 14 May 1948, the polar vessel Force, carrying the first expedition to Green-land organized by the ExpCditions Polaires Franpises (Missions Paul-Emile Charcot left Brest carrying the first expedition to Adelie Land organized by ExpCditions Polaires FranGaises (EPF). 

This stamp and the cover was issued to commemorate those 20 years of continuous French Scientific activity in the South Polar Regions.

Thank you Merja.

10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty

Norway issued this stamp on the First Day Cover issued in Oslo on 23.6.1971 commemorating the 10^th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty. The picture on the stamp is that of Roald Engelbert Gravning Amundsen (16 July 1872 - 18 June 1928) who was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the Antarctic expedition (1910-12) to discover the South Pole in December 1911, and he was the first expedition leader to undisputedly reach the North Pole in 1926. Amundsen is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage (1903-06).  I am giving a small brief in the succeeding paragraphs to emphasise the importance being given to Antarctica by some nations.

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. The treaty, entering into force in 1961 and currently having 50 signatory nations, sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent. The treaty was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters have been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since September 2004.

Queen Maud Land is a c. 2.7 million-square-kilometre (1 million sq mi) region of Antarctica claimed as a dependent territory by Norway. The territory lies between 20° west and 45° east, between the British Antarctic Territory to the west and the Australian Antarctic Territory to the east. The latitudinal limits of the territory are not officially defined. Positioned in East Antarctica, the territory comprises one-sixth of the total area of Antarctica. The claim is named for theNorwegian queen Maud of Wales (1869–1938).

Norwegian Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was the first person known to have set foot in the territory, in 1930. On 14 January 1939, the territory was claimed by Norway. From 1939 until 1945, Germany claimed New Swabia, which consisted of part of Queen Maud Land. On 23 June 1961, Queen Maud Land became part of the Antarctic Treaty System, making it a demilitarised zone. It is one of two Antarctic claims made by Norway, the other being Peter I Island. They are administrated by the Polar Affairs Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security in Oslo.

Most of the territory is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, and a tall ice wall stretches throughout its coast. In some areas further within the ice sheet, mountain ranges breach through the ice, allowing for birds to breed and the growth of a limited flora. The region is divided into the Princess Martha Coast, Princess Astrid Coast, Princess Ragnhild Coast, Prince Harald Coast and Prince Olav Coast. The waters off the coast are called the King Haakon VII Sea.

There is no permanent population, although there are 12 active research stations housing a maximum average of 40 scientists, the numbers fluctuating depending on the season. Six are occupied year-round, while the remainder are seasonal summer stations. The main aerodromes for intercontinental flights, corresponding with Cape Town, South Africa, are Troll Airfield, near the Norwegian Troll research station, and a runway at the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Thank you Pia for this nice FDC.

25th Anniversary of Scott Base in 1982

The first stamps inscribed Ross Dependency were issued on January 11, 1957, in conjunction with the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Edmund Hillary (part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition). Before the expedition left New Zealand, on 23 November 1956, Hillary had been appointed postmaster. When the expedition chose the site for Scott Base, a post office was established, initially in a tent. The initial set of stamps consisted of four stamps, in the denominations 3d, 4d, 8d, and 1s 6d. When New Zealand adopted a decimal currency in 1967, the stamps were reissued in denominations of 2c, 3c, 7c, and 15c.

A new definitive set, consisting of six stamps denominated 3c, 4c, 5c, 8c, 10c and 18c was issued in 1972. The next set, issued in 1982 to mark the 25th anniversary of Scott Base, consisted of 5c, 10c, 20c, 30c, 40c and 50c stamps were issued on 20th January 1982.

The post office at Scott Base was closed in 1987 as part of the rationalisation of New Zealand Post. Mail from the base was handled in Christchurch, and the issuing of “Ross Dependency” stamps ceased.

The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. New Zealand's claim to the region was formalized in 1923, when the Governor-General of New Zealand was appointed as the Governor of the Ross Dependency by an Imperial Order in Council made in London, United Kingdom. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article 1 of which states "The treaty does not recognize, dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force", most countries do not recognise territorial claims in Antarctica.

The Dependency takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea, and includes part of Victoria Land, and most of the Ross Ice Shelf. Ross Island, Balleny Islands and the small Scott Island also form part of the Dependency, as does the ice-covered Roosevelt Island.

The scientific bases of Scott Base (New Zealand) and McMurdo Station (USA) are the only permanently occupied human habitations in the area, though Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is partially within the territory and dependent on logistics operations based in New Zealand. The Dependency has a snow runway at Williams Field, and depending on conditions and time of year, two Ice Runways. This guarantees accessibility by wheeled and ski equipped aircraft year round.

Thank you Maria for this lovely FDC.

Anniversaries and Events 9.6.1971

This 1971 Commemorative Stamp Issue marked the 10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty and the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Children's Fund. Maria gave me this nice FDC. A brief description of the two stamps on it are given below.

The 10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty - 6c
The symbolic design is based on an impression of the constant high winds and swirling movement of the landscape - mountains, snowdrifts, storm-whipped seas and the transparent blues and greens which abound in Antarctic.

25th Anniversary of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund - 7c
UNICEF was established in 1946 with the object of protecting children all over the world against hunger, disease and ignorance.  The stamp design features a child on a swing symbolising the celebration of what has been achieved.

USSR - Antarctic Exploration

Another view of Russian Antarctic exploration on stamps.

USSR - Antarctica

The Russians are not new to exploration in the Antarctic ice covered landmass. The stamps shown were issued to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Soviet Exploration of this vast and largely unknown land.

India is also a major player in Antarctic Exploration, and many Expeditions have been sent there. The Russians have assisted the Indians in setting up their camp at Dakshin Gangotri.

The stamps I am displaying are se-tennants with very peculiar perforations in the centre. Experts on se-tennants and perforations may like to comment on this.