Ross Dependency South Magnetic Pole Flyover Cover

On 17 January 2009, New Zealand Post sent 2500 Ross Dependency 2008 British Antarctic Expedition FDCs on a flight over the South Magnetic Pole. It was a commemorative flight, marking the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the South Magnetic Pole by Douglas Mawson, Edgeworth David, and Alistair Mackay. However there is some doubt that they actually found the correct location.



The occasion is marked on the FDC with a special cachet on the lower left. The stamp series on this envelope was issued 5 November 2008 to mark the anniversary of Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition: the British Antarctic Expedition. The $2 stamp in this series commemorates Mawson, David, and Mackay's discovery of the South Magnetic Pole.

I think a little more could have been done to make the cover special. Perhaps having them individually numbered would have been enough. It's a nice cachet - well done. But it's a first day cover for a stamp series that was issued 5 November 2008. I think it would have been more significant if the stamps had been cancelled on the day of the flight instead. Even so, it is a nice FDC and will find a good home in my collection.

New Stamps from Belgium

I received these stamps from a fellow collector in Belgium: Preserve the Polar Regions and Europa 2009. The Polar Regions sheet was issued 9 March 2009 and features Belgians Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer who walked across the Arctic from Russia to Greenland in 106 days in 2007. The Europa sheet was issued 6 April 2009 and this copy was signed by the stamps designer: Thierry Mordant - an extra touch that I really appreciate. Thank you Thomas!

Still Looking for Davo Preserve the Polar Regions Album

I’m still not able to find anything on the Davo website about this album but the recent issue of Greenland Collector does have a small advertisement with pricing. Apparently with all stamps included it sells for €95.00 and without stamps, €37.50.

BAT Recognizes 100 Year of Naval Aviation

The Royal Navy celebrates 100 year of aviation on 9 May 2009. This dates marks the 100th Anniversary of the first naval order for an air ship. A number of British Commonweatlh nations and territories are issuing stamps to commemorate the occasion. I believe the British Antarctic Territory was the first (1 January 2009) with a set of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet. The stamps feature the Westland Lynx (10p), the Fairey Seafox (10p), the Westland Wasp (90p) and the Supermarine Walrus (90p). The £2souvenir sheet features the Mayfly: the first airship purchase ever made by the Royal Navy. The contract was awarded to Vickers and it took two years to design and construct. But it was never put into use. The ship was damaged beyond repair on its first test flight.