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Welcome to the website of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain (PPHSGB)

Awarded Large Vermeil  Medal  London 2022  Stamp Exhibition 

  • Sold for £24
  • Sold for £24
  • Sold for £37.78
  • Sold for £10
  • Sold for £31

The society for collectors of Arctic and Antarctic Polar Postal History from around the World.

A warm welcome to the website of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain. The aims of the Society are to promote the study of polar philately, postal history from the polar regions, and to act as a meeting place where members can exchange information and learn more about their areas of interest. We welcome members from not just Great Britain but from all around the World!

We hope that you will browse the site and learn more about the Polar Postal History Society. You can find more information about the society and society events. The website features many fine examples of polar postal history from our member's collections from which you can learn from or just admire. You can read about our informative magazine Polar Post and get online access to every issue of the magazine since the society was founded in 1953! The latest polar news is available to read, auction information from both society auctions and auction houses can be viewed, and books purchased from our polar publications section. We provide links to other polar related websites that can help you with your collecting, and show you historical polar videos that we found interesting - if you would like your website to be added to our links please send us a message!

If you are interested in the Postal History of the Polar Regions, either North and South, please contact us for more information or better still fill out the application form and join our society. Please specify your range of interests on the application form, but whatever they are, you will be most welcome. Happy polar collecting!




All visitors to the website can  read and download a sample issue of the society journal in the Sample Polar Post folder!

Latest News

December issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  3rd December  2023

The December issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library. You can can read the full PDF version with additional supplement here or, if you have already received your paper copy, you can read the supplement only here.

The full December issue with the additional supplement is only available online in the Polar Post Library.

Good Polar reading!

A trip to Antarctica  14th November 2023

Our chairman, Trevor Cornford, has sent images of his trip to Antarctica- These have been posted in a blog post. Check them out here!

Postcards from Antarctica 15th September 2023

Send a postcard from the world’s southernmost post office

The penguin post office at Port Lockroy, on a football pitch-sized island on the Antarctic peninsula, was opened in 1944. It began with a secret mission to establish the first permanent British base on the continent. This outpost was known as Base A and the basic wooden hut as Bransfield House. Scientists stationed there laid the foundations for the vitally important science that happens in Antarctica today. In 1996, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust opened the site as a post office and museum.

For eight decades this special building has endured winter after winter, but with reducing sea ice we are seeing heavier snow fall, and we need your help to fix and stabilise the roof above one of the most important rooms of the site, the historic bunkhouse. You can help to support the conservation efforts by sending your very own Postcard from Antarctica this year.

As part of the 80th birthday of the Port Lockroy base in Antarctica and the 30th anniversary of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust charity,and support the roof repair of the base at the same time. Simply complete the form from the link below, make your donation of £20 and their Antarctic team will do the rest.

The charity need to raise over £50,000 to enable the conservation efforts this year. You can play a part in Antarctica by sending your postcard, making a donation or sharing this story with your friends. Thank you.

Offer now ended

Polar Postal History Society of GB - Annual General Meeting 2023

At The Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street Islington, London. N1 0QH
On Thursday 28th September 2023 at Autumn Stampex
From 12.30 to 14.30 in Society Space “THU2”.

Note the change of date!!

All members are most welcome.

You can read more about Stampex here

 September issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library 20th August 2023

The September issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library. If you are still to receive your paper copy you can can read the full PDF version with additional supplement  here or, if you have already received your paper copy, you can read the supplement only here.

The full September issue with the additional supplement is only available online in the Polar Post Library.

Good Polar reading!

 June issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library 21st May 2023

The June issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library. If you are still to receive your paper copy you can can read the full PDF version with additional supplement here or, if you have already received your paper copy, you can read the supplement only here.

The full June issue with the additional supplement is only available online in the Polar Post Library.

Good Polar reading!

March issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  8th March 2023

The paper copies of the first Polar Post of 2023 are in the process of being delivered to our members.. Due to continual uncertainties as to actual delivery times the March issue has been added early to the online Polar Library.

The full March issue with the additional supplement that is only available online can be accessed in the Polar Post Library.

Details of the contents of Polar Post and of the supplement can both be seen below.

Good reading!

Contents March 2023 Polar Post

New Issue: British Antarctic Territory – Maiden Voyage of RRS Sir David Attenborough 01; 26
Committee; Deadline for next Polar Post; Dates for your Diary; Note on Copyright 02
Contents; Editorial with News of the Antarctic Summer Season 2022/2023 03
Chairman’s Message; †Rolf Kardel, Hanover: 6th February 1935 – Early October 2022 04
†Billy-Ace “Penguin” Baker, 1936-2022 05
“Dr Charcot and Pourquoi-Pas? – a Guernsey Mystery?” (Newly Discovered Postcards) 05-06
The Failed Austrian Antarctic Expedition 1985/86 06-07
Navy to the Rescue – the resupply of Macquarie Island by HMAS Stalwart 08-09
HMAS Perth – Mercy Mission to Macquarie Island; Membership News 10
U.S.S. North Star 11-13
European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon Liberec 2022 14-17
Two Previously Unreported “Endurance” Postcards; Non-Philatelic Polar Books 18
New Issue: Norway 1st October 2022 – 150th Anniversary of the Arctic University Museum of Norway 19
New Issue: British Antarctic Territory: Airmail Postcard Rate – Emperor Penguin Chick 19
New Issue 23rd June 2022: Monaco – Centenary of the Death of Prince Albert I of Monaco; Albert I and Spitsbergen 20
New Issue 16th August 2022: Argentina – Argentina in Antarctica 20
New Issue 11th November 2022; Romania – 75th Anniversary of the Death of Emil Racoviță 21
New Issue 24th November 2022: Monaco – Centenary of the Death of Prince Albert 1st of Monaco 21
New Issues: Greenland – 11th November 2022 22
New Issues: January 2023 – French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FSAT/TAAF) 23-25
New Issue: Russia 25th November 2022 – Series “Arctic Tourism” – The village of Teriberka, Murmansk Region 26
Omnibus Issue 15th February 2023: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022 (Ascension Island;
British Antarctic Territory; South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands; The Falkland Islands; Tristan da Cunha) 27-28

Contents March 2023 Supplement

PDF Supplement to Polar Post, N°276, March 2023
This Supplement contains the following information and articles:
Correction to an Error in the Printed Edition of Polar Post, March 2023, Page 02 28A
Correction to the Location of Swinpex 2023 28A
Delay in Despatch of the Printed Polar Post March 2023 28A
An Update to the Article on Pages 05 & 06 of the Printed March 2023 issue of Polar Post 28B
Book: “Jean-Batiste Charcot en Antarctique”/“Jean-Batiste Charcot in the Antarctic” by Serge Kahn FRPSL 28C
Book: “The Antarctic Compendium” by Steve Bennett 28C
Recent Non-Philatelic Polar Books 28D-28E
New Issue 21st February 2023: Norway – Svalbard 28E
New Issues 27th February 2023: Greenland 28F
New Issue 6th March 2023: The Falkland Islands – The Paintings of Mike Peake Part 3 – Scenery 28G
New Issue 13th March 2023: British Antarctic Territory – Frozen Planet II 28H-28I
New Issue 13th March 2023: South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands: Frozen Planet II 28I-28J
Frozen Planet II 2022 – The Documentary Series of Six Programmes 28J
33rd International Philatelic Exhibition Essen IBRA 25th to 28th May 2023 /40 Years Polarstern Postmark and Stamps 28K
Flyer for SWINPEX 2023 28L

New Additions to the Polar Library  8th February 2023

We have pleasure in announcing the addition of two updated polar philatelic publications in the Polar Library. John Youle has updated his

British Antarctic Territory First Day Covers 1963 to 2022 and South Georgia First Day Covers to 2022


Members can read these fine publications by clicking on the links above and logging in to the Polar Library.  Good reading!

December issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  1st December 2022

The paper copies of the latest issue of Polar Post, December 2022, have been despatched from our publishers and the issue has also been added to the polar library. Note that due to postal strikes in the UK deliveries of the printed Polar Post to members might be delayed.

But don't worry! The full December issue with the interesting bonus material that is only available in the online library can be viewed in the Polar Posts 2022 Folder and be read directly in the Polar Post Library website  here

Full contents are also listed below.

Contents December 2022

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022 93 (Front Page) & 98
Committee; Deadline for next Polar Post; Dates for your Diary; Note on Copyright 94
Contents; Editorial 95
Update to the Article “Changes to the Operation of the Norwegian “Bergen to Kirkenes” Post Ship Route” 95
Chairman’s Message; Postcard MW GF-2; Postcard of an unknown bearded man 96
Phoenix Auctions Sale “N°94 – Part 1”, Thursday 18th August 2022; Membership News 97
The Endurance 22 Expedition Philately – an update 98
North Cape (Nordkapp) Tourist Postcard 1891; The Editor’s Visit by Car to North Cape in the Fog 1986 99
Survey Expeditions to Heard and McDonald Islands 1971 and 1980 100-103
The beginning of Sea-borne Antarctic Tourism 1958-1970 103-109
New Issue: The Falkland Islands – 25th Anniversary of the Lighthouse Seafarer’s Mission 110
New Issue: The Falkland Islands – Rural Heritage Definitive Stamps 110
New Issue: South Georgia & SSI – South Sandwich Islands, Central Islands 111
New Issue: Ross Dependency – Science on Ice 112
New Issue: TAAF/FSAT – 300th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Tropical Coral Island Tromelin 113
New Issue: TAAF/FSAT – Centenary of the Death of Prince Albert 1st of Monaco 113
125th Anniversary of the Departure of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition – privately produced cover 113
New Issue: Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) – Australian Antarctic Program: 75 Years 114-115
New Issues: Greenland – 8th and 31st August 2022 115
New Issue: Tristan da Cunha – The Legacy of Jacques Cousteau 1910 – 1997 115
New Issue: Tristan da Cunha – Vagrant Species Part 3 116
New Issue: Spain – Antarctic Campaigns Souvenir Sheet 116

PDF Supplement to Polar Post, N°275, December 2022
This Supplement contains the following information and Articles:
Page 116A: Obituary – Rolf Kardel, 1935-2022.
Pages 116B – 116I: A Tribute in Postage Stamps to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022.
Page 116J; New Issue: The Czech Republic – The European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon LIBEREC 2022.
Pages 116J – 116K: Philatelic Souvenirs available at Liberec 2022.
Page 116K: Liberec 2022 – The Jury for the Polar Salon.
Pages 116L – 116M: Liberec 2022 Polar Salon Palmares and Report of the Polar Salon Jury.
Pages 116N: The full press release text for the New Issue: The Falkland Islands – 25th Anniversary of the Lighthouse Seafarer’s
Mission reported on Page 110 of the printed December 2022 issue of Polar Post.
Pages 116O – 116Q: The full press release text for the New Issue: The Falkland Islands Rural Heritage Definitive Stamps
reported on Page 110 of the printed December 2022 issue of Polar Post.
Page 116R: The full press release text for the New Issue: Tristan da Cunha – The Legacy of Jacques Cousteau 1910 – 1997
reported on Page 115 of the printed December 2022 issue of Polar Post.
Page 116S – 116T: The full press release text for the New Issue: Tristan da Cunha – Vagrant Species Part 3 reported on Page 116
of the printed December 2022 issue of Polar Post.
Pages 116U – 116W: New Issues for the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FSAT/TAAF) January 2023.
Page 116X: New Issue Monaco – Centenary of the Death of Prince Albert I of Monaco – Albert I and Spitsbergen, June 2022.
Page 116X: New Issue: Argentina – Argentina in Antarctica, August 2022.
Page 116Y: New Issues: Greenland 11th November 2022.
Page 116Z: Obituary – Billy-Ace “Penguin” Baker, 1936-2022.
Page 116Z: New Issue 24th November 2022: Monaco – Centenary of the Death of Prince Albert 1st of Monaco

September issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  21st August 2022

The paper copies of the latest issue of Polar Post, September 2022, have been despatched from our publishers and the issue has also been added to the polar library.

The contents of the September issue can be viewed in the Polar Posts 2022 Folder and you can read this issue of Polar Post directly in the Polar Post Library website here

And don't forget to read the interesting bonus material that is only available in the PDF supplement added to the online edition in the Polar Library.

 

Peter Cranwell Polar Auction Results are now available  20th August 2022

The auction of the polar collection of our late member Peter Cranwell was held at Phoenix Auctions in Australia on 18th August.

The auction was a great success with hammer prices twice exceeeding pre-auction estimates.
The prices realised for all auction items can be viewed here by lot number or, just for the polar lots (with images) here.
Shackleton Letter 1909 Estimate AUS$300, Realised AUS$3000
Shackleton Letter 1914 Estimare AUS$400, Realised $3800

Peter Cranwell Polar Postal History Auction is now Online  1st August 2022

The polar collection of our late member Peter Cranwell is now online at Phoenix Auctions.

The auction is is being held over two days, Thursday 18th August  & Friday 19th August, with the Polar collection providing the first 366 lots in the Auction .

The auction will be live on the net via Phoenix auctions website

While there is obvious strength in Antarctica, there are also many lots for the Arctic collector. Phoenix will also be attending the Antarctic Exhibition on 26th to 28th August in Hobart for any members who are visiting.

All the Polar Lots can be viewed in the Polar Auctions folder on our website here

Advance Notice of Polar Postal History Auction  23rd June 2022

Phoenix Auctions in Australia are offering the polar collection of our late member Peter Cranwell at their August auction.

The collection consists of contemporary polar postcards with a wide range of postal history. The strength of the collection is Antarctica with some arctic material. The auction will be held the week prior to the Antarctic Exhibition in Hobart (26th to 28th August).
Please make a note in your diary as many of the polar items in the auction are rarely seen!

Some images have already been added to the auctions folder on the website and can be viewed here

More images and details on where to bid will be added towards the end of July

June issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library   1st June 2022

The paper copies of the new issue of Polar Post, June 2022, have been despatched from our publishers and the issue has also been added to the polar library. The cover features the award of Honorary Life Membership to our Membership Secretary Robert McMillan.
Congratulations Robert!

The contents of the June issue are shown below. You can read this issue of Polar Post directly in the Polar Post Library website  here

Photograph: Robert McMillan FRPSL being awarded Honorary Life Membership of the PPHSGB 37
Committee; Deadline for next Polar Post; Dates for your Diary; Note on Copyright 38
Contents; Editorial, Membership News 39
Chairman’s Message 40
Membership Secretary’s Report for 2021; Report of the Editor of Polar Post for 2021 41
Report of the Hon. Secretary for 2021 41
Report of the Webmaster for 2021 42-43
Treasurer’s Report and Accounts for 2021 43
Minutes of the AGM of the PPHSGB held on 26 February 2022 44
London 2022 45-46
Book Review: Norwegen Antarktis-Expeditionen 1945 bis 2018 46
European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon LIBEREC 2022 47
The Norwegian North Polar Expedition with The Maud, 1918-1925. Part 8: The Expedition 48-54
“QUEST”: The Last Voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Part 5 - “Finale” 54-58
New Issue: South Georgia & SSI: 30th Anniversary of The South Georgia Museum 59-60
New Issue: Norway - 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Roald Amundsen 60
New Issue: Germany - Environmental Protection (“Für den Unweltschutz”) 60
New Issue: South Georgia & SSI: 40th Anniversary of Liberation 25th April 2022 61-62
Personalised Stamps and a Commemorative Postmark sponsored by Arge Polarphilatelie e.V. 62
New Issue Germany: ‘Polarlicht über den Lofoten’ (Aurora Borealis over the Lafoten Islands) 62
New Issues: The Falkland Islands; South Georgia & SSI; The British Antarctic Territory;
Tristan da Cunha: Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 63-64
New Issues; Greenland - HRH Crown Princess’s 50th birthday; Greenlandic school savings coupons, Part III 64

Additional Online Supplement to the June 2022 Polar Post.
This online only supplement is additional to the printed copy sent out to society members. It contains material of a non-philatelic nature for which there was no room in the printed June 2022 issue of Polar Post. There was also limited space available to report on London 2022. In addition a number of new stamp issues have been announced since the issue was sent to the printers. Supplement contents include:

London 2022 Exhibits by Members of the PPHSGB or FIPSG relating to the Polar Regions or The Falkland Islands

Exhibits of Members of the PPHSGB or the FIPSG relating to other Geographical Areas

A response to Trevor Cornford’s article on “QUEST: The Last Voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton

Special Shackleton Postmark Sponsored by Arge Polarphilatelie e.V

Sotheby’s London Auction Travel, Atlases, Maps and Photographs

New Issue: Hungary 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Roald Amundsen

New Issue: Germany - Environmental Protection (“Für den Unweltschutz”)

 New Issue: French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF)

New Issue: The Falkland Islands

New Issue: Tristan da Cunha

New Issue: Guernsey - 40th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict

New Issues: Greenland

Grosvenor Auction March 1-2, 2022 (Sale Number 145)

A Favourite Cover - Island Princess by Phil Schreiber

March issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library   13th March 2022

The paper copies of the new issue of Polar Post, March 2022, have been despatched from our publishers and the issue has also been added to the polar library for members who are too excited to wait for the Postman or Postwoman to deliver the polar news!

With the news of the discovery of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance this week it is particularly relevant that Sir ernest appears on the front of the March issue of Polar Post and features in much of the content.

You can review the contents of the March issue in the Polar Post Library folder for 2022 here or read directly in the Polar Post Library website  here

Note that again the PDF Version of the March 2022  Polar Post in the Polar Library has an Annex with material added that is additional to the printed copy posted out to members. It is recommended that members go into the Polar Library and view this additional material to get the most out of their membership!

Award for the Polar Postal History Website at the London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition - 26th February 2022

The jury of the London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition judged a total of 545 exhibits - with a total of 47,696 pages in the frames and 318 literature exhibits, of which 38 were digital literature exhibits.

The Organising Committee were very keen to make London 2020 a literature friendly exhibition, and as a result, the Website of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain was entered into the Digital Literature category.

In the first ever competition entry for the Society website, it achieved one of the highest awards for a website, earning a total of 86 points and a Large Vermeil award:

08-5024-(0): Stephen Allen (United Kingdom): Website Of The Polar Postal History Society Of Great Britain - 86 points, Large Vermeil.

It is good to see the Society being recognised in this way!

6th International Polar Philatelic Exhibition Liberec 2022  11th February 2022

The Polar Salon is an international “worldwide” polar philatelic exhibition that takes place in various parts of the world every three years, mostly as part of national or international exhibitions. Organizing Committee of European Stamp Exhibition LIBEREC 2022, z.s. together with the clubs of polar collectors decided to organize the 6th International Polar Salon in Liberec in 2022.

European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon “LIBEREC 2022” is organized by Svaz českých filatelistů, z.s. (Union of Czech Philatelists) in cooperation with club “Evropská výstava poštovních známek LIBEREC 2022, z.s.”, established for this purpose under FEPA patronage and with FIP recognition.

Venue: Wellness Hotel Babylon https://www.hotelbabylon.cz/en/

Date: October 13th – 16th, 2022

Exhibition size: 1200 exhibition spaces

The closing date for entries for the Polar Salon is the end of March. Check out the Polar Events folder for more information

Polar Postal History Society of GB - Annual General Meeting   27th January 2021

Saturday 26th February 2022 at London 2022 10am to 12 Noon (Room number to be notified), Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street Islington, London. N1 0QH

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic it has not been possible to hold a formal Annual General Meeting for the Society since 2019 (which covered 2018 financial year) though Officers reports have been published in Polar Post. February 2022 will see a major international stamp exhibition in the UK Capital: London 2022.

In addition to the Society taking a table at the show on 23rd February and holding a joint meeting with the Falkland Island Philatelic Study Group on Thursday 24th February (between Noon & 2pm), the Society has booked a meeting room on Saturday 26th February to allow a cumulative AGM to be held covering 2019 to 2021. All members of the Society are encouraged to attend and vote.

Following the AGM there should be time for a Bring and Buy session, following which, an opportunity for a couple of displays. To assist in planning the event, please inform Robert Hurst in advance if you intend to bring a display with you.

Draft Agenda for the AGM
1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of the Previous AGM held on 16th February 2019 (See Polar Post, N°261, June 2019, Page 37).
3. Matters Arising
4*. Reports of the Society Officers - (including Adoption of the accounts for 2019, 2020 and 2021 & subscription rates for 2023)
5. Election of the Committee
6. Election of the Accounts Examiner
7. Date for next AGM
8. AOB
* The Accounts and the Reports of the Society Officers for 2019 were published in Polar Post, N°265, June 2020, Pages 33 to 35.
The Accounts and the Reports of the Society Officers for 2020 were published in Polar Post, N°269, June 2021, Pages 42 & 43.
The Accounts and the Reports of the Society Officers for 2021 will be available at the meeting

One of many philatelic souvenirs set to be on offer during the London 2022 show
Postponed to 2022

New Issue - Norway "150th Anniversary of the Birth of Roald Amundsen" 3rd January 2022

This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Roald Amundsen and Norway have released two stamps to commemorate the event. Images of the stamps have been added to the Polar Stamps folder!

December issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library   29th November 2021

The paper copies of Polar Post, December 2021, were despatched from our publishers last week. The issue has also been added to the polar library for members who might experience postal delays.

You can review the contents of the December issue in the Polar Post Library folder for 2021 here or read directly in the Polar Post Library website here

The PDF Version of the December 2021 Polar Post in the Polar Library has a 30-page Annex that is additional material to the printed copy posted out to members.

The purpose of the PDF Supplement is to give notice of new stamps issues which are announced in the four-week gap between the despatch of the issue to the printers and the postal despatch to members. This gap is 3-4 weeks. In addition information or articles may be included, which will never appear in the printed version. As an example the items in the annexe for the December 2021 issue include:

Covers, Stamps and Postcards for Sale – from Eddy De Busschere. Signature of Captain John King Davis wanted by Darren Jones. Help Wanted! from Tore Sigurd Sandvik. Shipping News. New Issues. Recent Arctic Region Cards from Phil Schreiber. Centenary of the Death of Robert Speirs Bruce. THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1902-04.

If any member has fogotten their log-in details please contact the webmaster to assist!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN YOULE ON 25 GREAT YEARS AS EDITOR OF POLAR POST!  1996 - 2021

We the Committee members of the Polar Postal History Society wish to put on record our grateful thanks for his stalwart dedication to our Society on behalf of the membership. The Polar Post has grown and evolved over his stewardship from plain print to colour covers and now full colour content. He was also involved in the nascent Website efforts. With negotiation for competitive cost, print and paper quality, postage costs and modern layout. With
information gathering on voyages, members’ questions, stamp issues and tasteful In Memoriam for members passing. All additional work not always realised. His overall knowledge and dedication should not be underestimated and is very much appreciated – Please carry on John as long as you can and ensure the standards are maintained. A symbolic 3 cheers!

John included the following words in the editorial for the December issue of Polar Post:

During my 25 years and 100 issues as editor of Polar Post, I have experienced massive changes in computing technology. In 1997 images were in half-tone black and white and now they are in full colour. Back then I had to print out Polar Post on paper and post the paper to the printers. Now I send Polar Post as a print quality PDF file to the printers via the Internet.

Another change was that I took over from Margery Wharton at a time when the Centenaries of the Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration were about to take place and thus I could use contacts to provide articles on these early expeditions - Eddy de Busschere, Stefan Heijtz, Paul Wales and Trevor Cornford for the fi rst of these. With this and the March 2022 issue we mark the end of the Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration with the death of Sir Ernest Shackleton at South Georgia on 5th January 1922. In December 1997 I had the privilege to stand at his grave in Grytviken during a cruise from the Falklands to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula on board the World Discoverer, one of the highlights of my life. We were blessed with fair weather and 20+ landings but sadly not on Elephant Island and the South Orkneys thanks to sea-ice conditions.

And apart from editing Polar Post what is my contribution to Polar Postal History since joining the PPHSGB in 1982? Initially I wrote articles for Polar Post on the Postmarks of BAT and these articles developed into my book on “The Postmarks and Cachets of the British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia” published in 2001. I have kept on adding to the original book and the updated book is still available from me now free of charge as a PDF and is also available on the PPHSGB Website in the Members’ Area.

September issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library 28th August 2021

The paper copies of Polar Post, September 2021, were despatched from Huttons Ambo this week. The issue has also been added to the polar library for members who might experience postal delays.

The PDF Version of the September 2021 Polar Post in the Polar Library has an Annex that is additional material to the printed copy posted out to members.

July PPHSGB Auction Results   6th July 2021

The recent auction featuring postcards and covers connected to Robert Peary and the Discovery of the North Pole finished on Sunday 4th July.

Nine of the items sold with the number of bids received showing a strong decline from earlier auctions. This was particularly noticeable with few bids from outside the UK. The recent introduction of the new EU rules for e-commerce meant that VAT would have been added to purchases. This potentially made bidding on the auction less interesting for many members. The total sales achieved in the auction was £104 with 10% proceeds going to the Polar Postal History Society.

July PPHSGB Auction  23th June 2021

After two auctions from the Southern Polar Regions the new auction heads North to the Arctic. The subject is Robert Peary and "How the North Pole was Discovered". The latest Polar Postal History Society auction starts on Thursday 24th June at 19.00 - 20.00 UK time and finishes on Sunday 4th July.

This auction presents covers postcards from the period of the discovery of the North Pole in 1909 as well as interesting commemorative covers.

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

June PPHSGB Auction Results   6th June 2021

The recent auction featuring South Georgia and South Georgia related material finished on Sunday 6th June.

South Georgia proved to be a popular subject matter with one item attracting 23 bids. The two whaling covers reached £160 and £170 and a French postcard featuring Sir Ernest Shackleton made £156. A Shackleton Typhoo Tea advertising card sold for £32. The total sales achieved in the auction was £666 with 10% proceeds going to the Polar Postal History Society.

What this auction reinforced is that if you put more unusual or rarer material into the PPHSGB auctions then the prices achieved are spectacular! If any members have suitable material that they would like to offer in a future auction then please contact the webmaster.

Whaling Leith Harbour South Georgia Norway 1930 Sold for £170
Whaling Norway Leith Harbour South Georgia 1930 Sold for £160

June PPHSGB Auction   27th May 2021

After the success of the recent auction of items from the British Antarctic Territory we go straight into a new auction featuring South Georgia and South Georgia related material. We start the new Polar Postal History Society auction on Thursday 27th May at 20.00 - 21.00 UK time and finish on Sunday 6th June.

This auction presents covers from the whaling period of South Georgia as well as some interesting Sir Ernest Shackleton items.

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

May PPHSGB Auction Results   24th May 2021

The latest Polar Postal History Society featuring material from the British Antarctic Territory finished on Sunday 23rd May.  All 29 items in the auction sold and the auction raised £260.

The two top items were a cover from 1963 featuring the Definitive issue on a First Day Cover that made £60 and a cover with letter and photographs from Signy Base in 1965 that reached £47.

A new auction is planned for later in the week featuring South Georgia items. Watch this space for more information!

May PPHSGB Auction   13th May 2021

They're Back. No, not the Backstreet Boys nor AC/DC but the Polar Postal History Society auctions!

With eBay problems now fixed and covid restrictions easing in many places it is time to start up the auctions again!

We stick with the theme of covers from the British Antarctic Territory for the May auction and include some items from the cancelled auction as well as offering new covers. We start the new Polar Postal History Society auction on Thursday 13rd May at 19.00 - 20.00 UK time and finish on Sunday 23th May.

This auction presents covers from several members both in single lots and in groups and at various price points for all pockets. Interesting covers include one with a British Antarctic Territory Registration label number 000001 and an attractive Ernest Shackleton item.

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

March issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  25th February 2021

The paper copies of Polar Post, March 2021, were despatched from Huttons Ambo on Monday 22nd February 2021. Please note that there are still long postal delays to destinations outside the United Kingdom. The full list of contents can be viewed in the Polar Post folder.

The March 2021 issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library in order for all members to be able to read without delay.

CONTENTS
Liv Arnesen - the first Woman to reach the South Pole Solo 1; 18
Turkey Joins the “Antarctic Philatelic Club” 1; 18
Committee; Deadline for next Polar Post; Dates for your Diary; Note on Copyright 2
Contents; The Latest Antarctic News 3
Chairman’s Message; Membership News; Brian Clayton elected FRPSL; Editorial 4
The Economy of the French Southern Islands - Stamps and Postal History Part 2 5-7
More Snares; NATO Arctic Operation Mongoose 8
A Current Polar Postal Exploration; A Polar Work Horse - NGCC Amundsen 9
The Norwegian North Polar Expedition with The Maud, 1918-1925 Part 3 - Danish Sales Agents Imprints, etc. 10-15
A Visit to Roald Amundsen’s Home “Uranienborg” - September 2020 16-17
“Dome C” - Concordia Station Postcard 18
MOSAIC - The 2nd Relief of Polarstern - The Rendezvous with FS Sonne and FS Maria S. Merian 19
New Issues: Greenland - 6th November 2020 19
New Issues: The French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF) - October 2020 to January 2021 20-22
New Issues: The Falkland Islands - Mine Clearance Programme and Christmas 2020 23
New Issue: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Royal Navy Ships 23
New Issue: Tristan da Cunha: Vagrant Species Part 2 23
New Issue: Tristan da Cunha - Modern Mail Ships Definitive Issue 24
New Issues: British Antarctic Territory - Discovering Antarctica Stamp Design Competition and Antarctic Birds 24

PDF Annex to Polar Post, March 2021

The PDF Version of the March 2021 Polar Post in the Polar Library has a 22-Page Annex that is additional material to the printed copy posted out to members.

This last minute annex contains Christian Murguet's display of THE SHACKLETON ENDURANCE EXPEDITION (1914-1917). The display is not in the format of an article which fits into the format of a printed issue of Polar Post but, in addition to material already published in Polar Post, depicts two French published postcards never mentioned before in Polar Post. This display is on pages 24B to 24H.

In Polar Post, December 2020 contained an article entitled “The Norwegian North Polar Expedition with the Maud, 1918-1925, Part 2 - The Voyage of the Fram 1912-14”. The authors were unaware of an original Ice Cap News “BUT” article written by Hal Vogel on Fram postcards from Panama from 1993 and this is re-published in full on Pages 24I to 24L .

The New Issues for Greenland of 22nd February 2021 are published on Page 24M. A complete list of all Greenland Issues planned for 2021 is published on Page 24N. A New Issue from the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) entitled “Arts Fellowship” due for release on 16th March 2021 is published on Page 24O. A New Issue for Norway entitled “Peter 1 Island” of 19th February 2021 is also published on Page 24O. A special Postmark from Germany with a King Penguin motif is published on Page 24P. The article is entitled: “Lufthansa’s current Longest Non-Stop Flight: Hamburg to RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands Special Postmark with King Penguin Motif used at Hamburg Airport on 1st February 2021”. A previously unlisted BAS cachet from Faraday F-C-09A is published on Page 24Q.

December PPHSGB Auction Cancelled   9th December 2020

Observant members might have noticed that the auction listings on eBay suddenly disappeared during the day.

The reason for this is without warning eBay blocked the Polar Postal History Account and sent a message that due to the impending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union all eBay accounts registered outside the UK need to be registered for VAT in order to continue.
This is despite the fact that no items are imported into the UK and none have VAT on them!

As a result the current auction of British Antarctic Survey covers has been cancelled. We apologise for this inconvenience.

Further details will be sent out when available.  

December PPHSGB Auction   3rd December 2020

After the two previous auctions of Antarctic and Arctic Postcards we switch to covers from the British Antarctic Territory for the December auction. We start the new Polar Postal History Society auction on Thursday 3rd December at 19.00 - 20.00 UK time and finish on Sunday 13th December.

This auction presents interesting covers from several members both in single lots and in groups and at various price points for all pockets.


Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

December issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library 29th November 2020

The December 2020 issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library in order for all members to be able to read without delay. The full list of contents can be viewed in the Polar Post folder.

PDF Annex to Polar Post, December 2020

The PDF Version of the December 2020 Polar Post in the Polar Library has a 25-Page Annex that is additional material  to the printed copy posted out to members.

The original intention was to just include the full texts of the Pobjoy Stamps press releases which are not yet available at: www.pobjoystamps.com. However, a flood of new issues has been announced since the paper version of the December 2020 Polar Post went to the printers. Rather than leave these issues to be covered in restricted form in the March 2021 issue they have been included as full details in this PDF Annex.

The Annex also contains on Page 104M details of a new book to be published in January 2021 by our French Member Serge Kahn and a request on Page 104X for information concerning the RRS Discovery II stopover in Kerguelen in September 1951 from André Guyader.

The 24-Page paper issue of the December 2020 Polar Post was despatched on Saturday 28th November 2020. Thanks go to Anne and Simon Lealman, Paul Jones and Robert McMillan for their hard work during these difficult times.

October PPHSGB Auction Results   12th November 2020

The latest Polar Postal History Society featuring Postcards of Antarctic Expeditions finished on Sunday 10th November. The auction proved popular with members:
22 items listed, 21 items sold, 128 bids
Winning bidders 14, of which 11 were members and 3 were non-members
Total sales = £779 (Arctic auction was £694!)
Contribution to PPHSGB funds was £60
 
The auction received very good prices across the board with a Canterbury Times card of Emperor Penguins achieving £86.75 and a cartoon card showing the South Pole reaching £84. Ernest Shackleton was in demand with two cards making £62 and £53 and all the Captain Scott cards sold. This auction exceeded last month’s auction by £84 even though there were 8 fewer cards listed. A win for the Antarctic!

Captain Scott Discovery Expedition Sold for £11.52

October PPHSGB Auction   29th October 2020

After the success of the previous auction of Arctic Postcards we now head South to the Antarctic. We start the new Polar Postal History Society auction on Thursday 29th October at 19.00 UK time with an auction featuring Postcards of Antarctic Expeditions.

This auction presents postcards from the classic era of Antarctic exploration and includes cards commemorating the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-99, the Scottish National Antarctic expedition of 1902-04,  Captain Scott's expeditions on the Terra Nova and Discovery as well as cards featuring Ernest Shackleton and Richard Byrd.

  The auction will finish on Sunday 8th November between 19.00 and 20.00 UK time.

All postcards at a starting price of £10

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

September PPHSGB Auction Results   10th October 2020

The latest Polar Postal History Society featuring Postcards of Arctic Expeditions finished on Sunday 4th October. There was a lot of interest with this auction with 122 bids received. Keeping up his record of finishing first, the card with the highest price featured Roald Amundsen and a real photo image of the ship Gjøa from the North West Passage expedition. This postcard fetched £206. The majority of cards achieved good totals.

North West Passage Gjøa Ship Arctic Expedition Sold for £206

An auction on Postcards of Antarctic Postcards is planned for later this month. It will be interesting to see if the Antarctic auction beats the Arctic auction total!

September PPHSGB Auction   24th September 2020

We restart the Polar Postal History Society auctions on Thursday 24th September at 19.00 UK time with an auction featuring Postcards of Arctic Expeditions.

This auction presents postcards from the classic era of arctic expeditions and from many of the geographic areas in the North. Included in the auction are cards commemorating Andree's balloon expedition of 1897, the Duke of Abruzzi's Farthest North expedition of 1899 and Roald Amundsen's North West Passage with the ship Gjøa. The Cook and Peary controversy is featured as well as early Greenland expeditions. The auction concludes with postcards from the airship expeditions of the Norge and Italia in 1926 and 1928 respectively.

  The auction will finish on Sunday 4th October between 19.00 and 20.00 UK time.

All postcards at a starting price of £10

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

September issue of Polar Post added to the Polar Library  16th August 2020

The September 2020 issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library in order for all members to be able to read without delay. The full list of contents can be viewed in the Polar Post folder. Good reading!

Polar Philatelic research papers added to the Polar Library 16th August 2020

Several polar philatelic research papers have been added to the Polar Library this week. There are updated versions of John Youle's Postmarks and Cachets of The British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia paper,  and his British Antarctic Territory First Day Covers 1963 to 2019 paper. There is also an extended version of Richard Hindle's The Norwegian North Polar Expedition with the Maud, 1918-1925, Part 1 – Background and Statistics that features in the September issue of Polar Post. These papers can be viewed directly by clicking on the images below or by visiting the Polar Library.

June PPHSGB Auction Results   29th June 2020

The final society auction before the Summer started on the 18th June and finished on 28th June. This small auction featured polar philatelic books to provide summer reading for our members. Ten out of eleven items sold  with the Postal History of Svalbard from 1896 book producing fierce bidding and a final price of £67 and Fred Goldberg's book on Roald Amundsen Expedition Mail selling for £33.

Thank you to all the bidders for taking part!

The next PPHSGB auction will take place in September. If any members have items that they wish to submit for this or later auctions, the society would be pleased to hear from you.

Contact the webmaster here!

Postal History of Svalbard from 1896 - Arne J Bay Sold for £67
The Postal History of the Antarctic Sold for £10.50
Postcards of Antarctic Expeditions 1898-1958 Sold for £10.50

Polar Post Article of the Month June 2020

For this month's "Article of the Month" we look nearer to current times and select an article from Polar Post number 203 published in December 2004. Member Aubrey Halpern writes that the "Postmaster is Only Human" as he recounts errors made by postmasters at various Antarctic bases. All is revealed in the Article of the Month folder.

June PPHSGB Auction   18th June 2020

The final society auction before the Summer started on the 18th June and will end on Sunday 28th June. This auction features something different - a small auction with polar philatelic books to provide summer reading for our members!

The books and pamphlets included in the auction featuring Antarctic and Arctic Polar Postal History can be viewed in the gallery below..

All at a starting price of £5

Click on the eBay logo above to go directly to the auction or here  to view the featured items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

May PPHSGB Auction Results   4th June 2020

The online PPHSGB auction for May on eBay finished on Sunday 31st May. The auction featured postcards, covers and ephemera from Antarctica. Antarctic postcards performed very well with a card from the Captain Scott Terra Nova expedition selling for £87, a Keens Mustard Farthest South card selling for £133.75, a Roald Amundsen Fram card selling for £106 and a card from the Shackleton-Rowett expedition selling for £139.87. The rare incoming postcard to a member of the Swedish Magellan Expedition of 1908 expedition sold for £87.

Thank you to all the bidders for taking part!

The final society auction before the Summer will start on the 18th June and will feature something different - polar philatelic books to provide summer reading for our members!

Scott Polar Research Institute First Day Covers   31st May 2020

Earlier this year, John Shears of the Friends of Scott Polar Research Institute took 100 of the SPRI 100 First Day Covers of the British Antarctic Territory issue on an epic voyage to the remote Ross Sea, Antarctica, on board the Oceanwide Expeditions vessel M/V Ortelius. The voyage included a visit to Captain Scott's historic hut at Cape Evans. During the voyage, John arranged for the covers to be signed by the Director of SPRI – Professor Julian Dowdeswell and Captain Scott’s grand-daughter – Dafila Scott. The cover has also been signed on the back by the Master of the M/V Ortelius – Captain Ernesto Barria, and stamped with the ship's cachet. There are now only 30 of these very rare signed covers still available for purchase.

The covers cost £30.00 each, including packing and postage. All the funds from the sale of the covers will be going towards the SPRI Centenary Campaign. As part of the Campaign, the Friends of SPRI are focusing on achieving a target of £250,000 to support a student fellowship in perpetuity at SPRI.

If members would like to purchase one or more First Day Covers then they can contact the Friends by e-mail and they will then make all the necessary arrangements to post out the covers and arrange payment.

May PPHSGB Auction now online   21st May 2020

The latest online PPHSGB auction is now active on eBay and finishes on Sunday 31st May. We look South for this auction and feature postcards, covers and ephemera from Antarctica. Highlights include a rare incoming postcard to a member of the Swedish Magellan Expedition of 1908 who had participated in the Swedish Antarctic Expedition from 1901/04,  real photo postcards of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen, and share certificates from the Trans Antarctic Expedition of 1957 and an Antarctic Argentinian whaling company. Also featured are covers from many Antarctic regions so there should be something for everyone.

View all auction items in the PPHSGB auction folder or click on the eBay icon below to go directly to the auction on eBay.

Good luck!

Roald Amundsen Antarctic Exp Fram South Pole Sold for £106
British Antarctic Expedition Tera Nova Frys 1910 Sold for £87
Ernest Shackleton Rowett Antarctic Quest 1921 Sold for £139.87
Swedish Magellan Expedition Skottsberg 1908 Sold for £87
BAT Signy Island Antarctic Registered Cover 1985 Sold for £8.26

April PPHSGB Online Auction   6th May 2020

The latest online PPHSGB auction finished on Sunday 3rd May. The theme of this small auction was Whaling - from both the North and South polar regions. Highlights of the auction included real photo postcards from Leith Harbour and Stromness in South Georgia that sold for £81.09 and £116 respectively. Two covers sent to the whaling pioneer Svend Foyn in 1863 reached £113 and £330 while a cover sent to a Dundee whaling ship in 1871 sold for £107.

Thanks to all the bidders for making this such a successful auction!

The next auction will have an Antarctic theme and is planned to start on May 21st.

April PPHSGB Online Auction   23rd April 2020

The latest online PPHSGB auction started on Thursday 23rd April at 17.30 UK time and will finish on Sunday 3rd May at the same time. The theme of this small auction is Whaling - from both the North and South polar regions.. Highlights include real photo postcards from Leith Harbour and Stromness in South Georgia, covers sent to the whaling pioneer Svend Foyn in 1863, a cover sent to a Dundee whaling ship in 1871 and limited edition Norwegian Post booklets commemorating whaling in the South Shetlands.

Click on the eBay image above to go direct to the auction on eBay or  here to view the auction items in the PPHSGB auction folder.

Ladybank to Dundee Arctic Whaling Ship S/S Erik Sold for £107
Cover Gothenburg to Svend Foyn Whaling Pioneer 186 Sold for £330
Norway Post Booklet Whaling South Shetlands Sold for £10.50

March PPHSGB Online Auction   6th April 2020

The latest online PPHSGB auction focused on postcards from the Arctic Island of Spitsbergen and finished on the 5th April. One highlight of this auction was a postcard sent from the Captain Bade tourist expedition to Spitzbergen and Franz Josef Land in 1900 - this achieved £84. Other highlights of the sale included three cards showing early mining that reached £68, £52 and £63.10 and a real photo card showing the Norwegian explorer Hjalmar Johansen during an overwintering expedition to Spitsbergen in 1908 - this achieved the excellent price of £171.

Thanks to all the bidders!

The next PPHSGB auction will take place towards the end of April and will focus on Whaling. More details to follow.

Captain Bade Spitzbergen Franz Josef Land 1900 Sold for £84
Captain Bade Spitzbergen Franz Josef Land 1900 Sold for £84
Postcard Explorer Hjalmar Johansen Expedition 1908 Sold for £171
Miners Ayer and Longyear Spitsbergen Svalbard 1905 Sold for £68

PPHSGB Annual General Meeting and Society Meeting  Cancelled  25th March 2020

The Secretary, Robert Hurst, announces that, in light of the cancellation of the London 2020 stamp exhibition and the cancellation of our booking at the Royal Philatelic Society due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the annual general meeting of the society is cancelled. Further details will follow when the situation becomes clearer. We wish the best of health to our members and their families at this time.

New Polar Post added to the Polar Library 18th February 2020

The March 2020 issue of Polar Post has been added to the Polar Library. Members can read articles on diverse polar subjects from the EcoNelson base to Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, from the Mawson Station to Captain Scott. And details of new issues of polar stamps in full colour!

Is your favourite polar postal history subject featured? If not, write down some words, add some images and contact our editor who would be pleased to hear from you!

Polar Postal History Society featured in Stamp Collector  17th February 2020

The March 2020 issue of Stamp Collector features the Polar Postal History Society and an article on "How to Start a Polar Postal History Collection".

Read the full article in the PPHSGB in the News folder!

Stamp Collector gives you all the information, news, expert advice, market insight and inspiration you need to build your stamp collection and get the most from your hobby.

Every issue features in-depth collecting guides giving you the lowdown on classic stamp sets, new stamps, postal history, first day covers and much more. Our stamp stories shed light on intriguing stamps and why they were produced, and our stamp sidelines pages provide an insight into postmarks, first day covers, Cinderellas, Post & Go and Europa stamps.

Check it out at your local newsagent or subscribe here!

Amundsen Fram Expedition Member Jørgen Stubberud Sold for £172

January PPHSGB Online Auction  4th February 2020

The first online PPHSGB auction of the year finished on Sunday 2nd February with polar material being targeted at Antarctic collectors. The main interest was in a signed postcard by a member of the Roald Amundsen 1910-1912 Fram expedition which sold for £172. Covers from the Norwegian British Swedish expedition of 1949-1952 sold for £46 and £13 while several Antarctic postcards achieved good results .

Members can view all previous online auction in the PPHSGB auctions folder

Polar Post Article of the Month  January 2020

Sixty years ago this month in January 1960, the second part of the Volo Transpolare 1926 article from LH Harris was published in Polar Post. No man had ever succeeded in penetrating the vast region that lay between the North Pole and Alaska. Read more about the Norge airship expedition of 1926 in our latest "Article of the Month" feature!

Volo Transpolare.pdf

Membership Renewal  December 17th 2019

Members of the Society are reminded that they can renew their membership of the PPHSGB and pay their subscription feees for 20120 online by following the instructions on the Renew Your Membership page in the Members' Section on the website. Subscription fees are £20 for UK based members and £25 for overseas members.
New members can fill in the application form on the "How to Join" page and get immediate access to the online Polar Library containing all issues of the society journal "Polar Post" published since 1953, in addition to receiving paper copies through the post of the new issues as they are published.

December 2019 Polar Post added to the Polar Library  20th November 2019

The December issue of Polar Post has been added to the  Polar Library  - another excellent issue from our editor, John Youle. Curl up by the fire and enjoy reading!

November PPHSGB Online Auction  December 1st 2019

The final online PPHSGB auction of the year finished on December 1st. Due to the time of the year every item in this auction related to The North Pole in celebration of that great polar collector, Father Christmas. Of the 20 items in the auction 19 sold with the final sales total reaching £591. The rare registered cover sent from Roald Amundsen's Maud Expedition sold for £190, a postcard showing the Fram arriving back in Norway on the Second Fram Expedition in 1902 went for £51, a damaged but historically interesting cover from the Ziegler Polar expedition of 1903 reached £32.25 and a postcard showing the depot of the Andree Balloon expedition sold for £46.

All final prices can be seen in the PPHSGB auctions folder here

200 Years of Polar Exploration Exhibition Spink London November 19th to 24th 2019

The largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Polar exploration material ever staged opens at Spink in London on November 19th. Entitled 200 years of Polar Exploration, it will feature clothing equipment, medals and other memorabilia from Scott, Shackleton and all of the leading explorers, from the Franklin expedition to the modern day, including Henry Worsley, who tragically died during his final Antarctic expedition in 2016.
The unprecedented display at Spink, created in partnership with collectors as well as the Scott Polar Research Institute, marks the centenary of the end of the Heroic Age of Exploration, as Shackleton prepared for his final expedition. It will include many iconic pieces that have never been seen together before and will also give centre stage to the largely unsung hero of the great Antarctic expeditions of the early 20th century. Read more in the Polar Events section.

October PPHSGB Online Auction Finishes October 27th

The second online auction of the society finished on October 27th. The stationery from Scott's Discovery expedition sold for £260, a signed postcard from Fridtjof Nansen sold for £155 and several better Falkland Islands and British Antarctic Expedition covers found new homes! There were seventy six bids and eight winning bidders. The total value of the auction was £507.

Members of the society are invited to submit polar material for selling in future PPHSGB auctions. Please read more on the Members Section here!

Remember that the Polar Postal History Society receives 10% of the proceeds.

First PPHSGB Online Auction Completed 22nd September 2019

The first online auction finished today and the results showed strong demand for polar postal material. Of the ten items listed all sold. There were one hundred and four bids and eight winning bidders. The total value of the auction was £1149. Due to the popularity of this initial auction a new auction is planned for next month, provisionally starting on 17th October. More information to follow!

If any member of the society wishes to submit any polar material for selling in future PPHSGB auctions please read more on the Members Section here!

The first online auction from the Polar Postal History Society started on Thursday September 12th  and ended on Sunday September 22nd .

Postal History and philately from the Arctic and Antarctic from many polar collecting areas featured and the PPHSGB received get 10% of the net proceeds!

Postmarks and Cachets of The British Antarctic Bases and South Georgia 11th August 2019

John Youle has created an updated version of his excellent book on postmarks and cachets of these popular polar collecting areas. You can read the full version of the book in the members' polar library by clicking on this link

Results of the Colour Competition announced! 31st July 2019

Fifteen members submitted entries for the colour competition and the winning entry chosen by Steve Allen, the webmaster, and the editor, John Youle, is shown on the front cover of the September 2019 issue of Polar Post. The winning entry was submitted by our Australian member Peter Cranwell. Congratulations to Peter!

All entries can be viewed on the slideshow at the top of the competition page in the Members Section or downloaded from the pdf added below.

Thanks go to everyone who participated.

Colour Competition Entries.pdf

September 2019 Polar Post added to the Polar Library 31st July 2019

The September issue of Polar Post will be posted out to members shortly. To keep members cool if you are in the middle of a heatwave the latest issue has been added to the  Polar Library . Enjoy reading and keep cool!

MIDPEX 2019 PPHSGB and FIPSG stands 6th July 2019

The PPHSGB and the Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group had stands at MIDPEX 2019 in the Warwickshire Event Centre, The Fosse, Fosse Way, near Leamington Spa, CV31 1XN on Saturday 6th July 2019 from 10:00 to 16:30. The event was run by the Midland Philatelic Federation and the Association of
British Philatelic Societies. It is sponsored by Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd. Read a report in the Polar Events  section.

STOCKHOLMIA 2019 joint FIPSG and PPHSGB meeting 31st May 2019

The joint FIPSG and PPHSGB meeting took place during the Stockholmia 2019 exhibition, which was from 29 May to 2 June 2019 in central Stockholm. The exhibition celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Royal Philatelic Society of London. Find out what happened in the separate Stockholmia 2019 folder!

Stockholm-New York in 1929: an Interrupted Polar Flight  Saturday 1st June 2019 10:00

Serge Kahn gave an informative and well attended lecture Stockholmia entitled " Stockholm-New York in 1929: an Interrupted Polar Flight". If any member missed the lecture you can see the full presentation in the Stockholmia folder.

New to the Polar Library! Polar Philatelic Books, Polar Research and Polar News Articles Sections 11 May 2019

With the complete history of Polar Post magazines available in the Polar Library and more Polar Books added, three additional new sections have been created in the Polar Library:

  • A new section for Polar Philatelic Books has been added with initial content including three excellent books on Antarctic Polar Postal History from Mark Jurisich and several well researched and detailed articles from John Youle.
  • A section on Polar Research has been added. Papers and articles on polar history to give you background on covers or postcards that you are researching
  • And a section featuring Historical Newspaper Articles that show how the polar news was originally reported at the time. Sometimes events are described very differently than how history presents them today!
  • All the contents of these sections are presented in the results from the search function in the Polar Library. Just make a search on your chosen polar subject and check out the results

Polar Postal History Society of GB Annual General Meeting & London Spring Meeting 16th February 2019
The Polar Postal History Society held its AGM at Spring Stampex on Saturday 16th February with a good number of members in attendance. Further details of the meeting will follow on the website and in Polar Post.

Gold Medal for "Operation Tabarin" publication at Spring Stampex 16th February 2019

It is with pleasure that we announce the award of a Gold medal to our president, Gerry Pearce, for his book "Operation Tabarin and its Postal History" in the Philatelic Literature class at Stampex. Well done Gerry!

The book looks at the Operation from the aspect of the political importance of the special stamps produced, and mail sent and received through the operation of Post Offices at the permanently occupied Antarctic bases.

The book is available to order in the Polar Publications section.

Membership renewal form 18th November 2018

To make it easier for UK and overseas members to renew their subscriptions an online membership renewal form has now been added to the website. Payment can be made electronically so you do not have to leave you house to renew your membership of your favourite polar society!

Addition of Polar Books to the Polar Library  18th November 2018  

To make the library more useful a new category has now been added – Polar Books - with copyright restrictions over, many polar books from the classic period of polar exploration have been uploaded to the Library and are available for all members to read. Find out what Antarctic Penguins really get up to, discover why Robert Falcon Scott lost out to Roald Amundsen or just read a polar literary masterpiece such as Apsley Cherry Garrard’s “The Worst Journey in the World”. You can read all these books and more online in the Polar Library or download to your PC or tablet and read later. More books will be continually added over the next few months so check back regularly to discover new polar reads.

Screenshot_2018-11-04 Aurora Australis  Ernest Shackleton  POLAR POSTAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAINjpg

Remember that to log-in to the Polar Library you just enter the e-mail address that you are registered with by the membership secretary, and password featured in the latest issue of Polar Post, into the Library log-in page accessible through the Members Section of the website.

19th – 21st October 2018  The Polar Postal History Society Cambridge Residential Weekend with the theme of "Americans in the Polar Regions" was enjoyed by all who attended. Some images of society members "in action" are shown below. Several of the displays featured Richard Byrd and some polar items from Byrd's expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic are featured on the left. A full report of all member's displays appears in the December issue of Polar Post.

12th August 2018: Launch of the Online Polar Post  Library

The Polar Postal History Society is pleased to announce the launch of the online Polar Post   Library. The Polar Postal History Library includes all issues of Polar Post from 1953 with lists of contents (where available) – that is over 250 issues!
Members can go directly to the Polar Post  library here or click on one of the 250 Polar Post  front covers to go directly to a specific issue.

As an added bonus, after extensive work by the editor of Polar Post,John Youle, issues from March 2007 to date have been converted into colour (where colour exists in the original article), and these updated colour versions can also be viewed in the library.
Read more in the Polar Post section!

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