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1908 (Jan 15) Picture postcard of Maori beauties written and signed by Raymond Priestley, the expedition's Geologist, addressed to England, with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. The message reads "First mail from King Edwards Land, saw our first ice this morning. Observe the stamp". The first use of KEVII Land stamps and the first mail from the expedition, sent back on the "Koonya" from the edge of the Antarctic ice pack. A fine and scarce item of expedition mail. Photo on Page 13. £700-800
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1908 (Jan 15) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, addressed to Knox Silmer Esq. in Wellington with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, backstamped at Dunedin (Jan 22) and Wellington. The first day of use of the KEVII Land stamps and the first expedition mail from the edge of the Antarctic ice sheet, sent back on the "Koonya". The Koonya first called at Port Chalmers where mails for New Zealand were offloaded, mail to other destinations being carried on to Lyttelton and handed to the Christchurch Postmaster the following day. Light vertical fold and a couple of small opening tears at upper edge, otherwise fine and scarce expedition mail offloaded at Port Chalmers and handed to the Dunedin Postmaster. Photo on Page 13. £300-350
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1908 (Jan 15) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, addressed to England with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, backstamped at Christchurch and Croydon. The first day of use of KEVII Land stamps and the first expedition mail from the edge of the Antarctic ice pack, sent back on the "Koonya", landed at Lyttelton where it was handed to the Christchurch Postmaster. Light vertical fold and a little minor creasing, otherwise fine and scarce expedition mail. Photo on Page 13. £300-350
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1908 (Feb 3) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, sent to Masterton, New Zealand, with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. The second expedition mail, the c.d.s used at the expedition's base at Cape Royds on McMurdo Sound, the mail sent back on the "Nimrod" which departed on February 22nd for Lyttelton. Unobtrusive tears at upper and lower edges, otherwise fine, about 550 letters carried on this mail. Photo on Page 13. £300-350
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1908 (Feb 3) Two long covers with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s (used at the expedition's base at Cape Royds), addressed to D. Robertson or J.C Williamson, both officials at the G.P.O Wellington, carried back on the "Nimrod" and backstamped at Lyttelton (Mar 7). The Williamson cover with some severe silverfish damage, the Robertson cover with two light vertical folds (one a little torn at top) but otherwise fine. These were amongst 47 letters sent by this mail to approved addresses requested by D. Robertson, which clearly included himself! (2). Photo on Page 13. £400-500
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1908 (Feb 3) Letter on "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907. S.Y "NIMROD"" headed notepaper, written and signed by Shackleton, "at the request of Mr Robertson, Secretary of Post & Telegraph Dept I am sending you a letter bearing stamp of this post office, Ernest Shackleton". A good Shackleton letter and autograph, presumably one of 47 identical letters written on this day in his capacity as Expedition Postmaster. £150-200
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King Edward VII Land 1d vertical pair used (light staining) attached with stamp edging to a piece of perforated paper upon which is written "To J Warwick from E.H Shackleton. The 1st such Polar stamps ever issued. E.H Shackleton, Postmaster". Photo on Page 17. £180-220
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1908 (Feb 3) Long cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, typed address of the expedition's agent J.J Kinsey in Christchurch, with KEVII Land 1d cancelled with the Antarctic c.d.s, applied at the expedition's base at Cape Royds, carried back on the "Nimrod" and handed directly to Kinsey, very fine. £300-350
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1908 (Feb 3) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, sent to Scotland (redirected from Aberdeen to Edinburgh) with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, applied at the expedition base at Cape Royds. Carried to New Zealand on the "Nimrod", backstamped at Lyttelton (Mar 7), Christchurch, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. A very fine expedition cover. Photo on Page 15. £400-500
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1908 (Feb 3) Picture postcard of Lyttelton, addressed to Christchurch with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, applied at the expeditions base at Cape Royds. A fine card from the expedition's second mail, carried on the "Nimrod" to Lyttelton. Photo on Page 15. £400-500
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1908 New Zealand KEVII ½d postal stationery postcard with a 1d universal added, backstamped with the FE 3 08 Antarctic c.d.s applied at the expedition base at Cape Royds, the card carried back to Lyttelton on the "Nimrod" and then posted from Lyttelton to Christchurch, cancelled by two Lyttelton squared circles. The card rather stained with a small tear at upper edge but unusual. £120-150
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1908 (Feb 27) Long cover to the expedition's agent J. Kinsey in Christchurch bearing New Zealand 1d Universal booklet pane block of four with central Antarctic c.d.s. This c.d.s used on the "Nimrod" on its return voyage to New Zealand, only known on unaddressed covers or covers to Kinsey, which were presumably handed directly to him. An unusual franking. Photo on Page 15. £400-500
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1908 (Feb 27) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, addressed to Auckland, with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s in green with a second strike alongside in black. This c.d.s used on the "Nimrod" on its return voyage, only recorded in the literature on unaddressed covers or covers to Kinsey; this cover addressed to a Mr Henson, the address therefore possibly added later to an unaddressed item. A scarce combination of green and black datestamps, very fine. Photo on Page 15. £400-500
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1908 (Feb 27) Similar cover with both green and black Antarctic datestamps, addressed to W.A. Moore c/o J.J Kinsey, the upper third of the cover a little toned, otherwise fine. £250-300
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1909 (Mar 4) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, addressed to Lady Shackleton in London, with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, the final date of use of the c.d.s. The "Nimrod" sailed back past Cape Royds on this day and Shackleton officially closed the Post Office; many loose stamps were cancelled to order with the c.d.s but very few covers were cancelled. No backstamps, probably carried back personally by Shackleton. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 15. £600-700
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1909 (Mar 4) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1907" printed on the flap, typed address of "J.J Kinsey, British Representative, British Antarctic Expedition 1907, Christchurch" and "From E.H Shackleton", with KEVII Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, arrival backstamp of Christchurch (Mar 25). The "Nimrod" sailed back past Cape Royds and Shackleton officially closed the Post Office on this day; the c.d.s was mainly used on loose C.T.O stamps, very few covers being cancelled. A fine and rare cover that passed through the post. Photo on Page 15. £600-700
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1908 (Jan 1) Cover franked 1d Universal and 1906 Christchurch Exhibition 3d, sent from Christchurch to the fictitious addressee "Mr John Frost, King Edward VII Land, Steam Ship Nimrod, Antarctica", backstamped upon arrival at Cape Royds with the FE 3 08 Antarctic c.d.s. Returned to New Zealand on the "Nimrod", backstamped at Lyttelton, with red octagonal "N.Z / CHRISTCHURCH / 14 MAR 1908 / UNCLAIMED" on the front. Photo on Page 15. £200-250
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1908 (Nov 26) KEVII 1d Postal stationery envelope from Auckland, to the fictitious addressee "B. Yero, Snowville, King Edward VII Land, Antarctica" and endorsed "per S.S Nimrod", backstamped at Lyttelton, twice handstamped violet "NOT KNOWN AT / KING ED-VII LAND" with red octagonal "N.Z / CHRISTCHURCH / 3 DEC. 1908 / UNCLAIMED". After receiving large numbers of similar covers to fictitious addresses in the first months of 1908 Kinsey asked the Christchurch Postmaster not to send such mail to the expedition, but to simply return it to the senders. However, very few such returned covers received this 'Not Known' cachet, which was possibly applied by Kinsey. Photo on Page 20. £350-450
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1917 (Aug 22) Letter written and signed by Shackleton shortly after his return from the 1914-17 Trans-Antarctic Expedition, with an attached marginal block of four KEVII Land stamps C.T.O with the MY 4 09 Antarctic c.d.s, with marginal alignment arrow, the block bordering the two different overprint settings, the upper pair more heavily inked. The letter, written on notepaper of "Marlborough Club, Pall Mall, S.W", reads "My Dear Mr Hobson, Here are the Antarctic stamps for your son. They are the first ever issued for an Expedition and are rare, Yours sincerely Ernest Shackleton". A fine Shackleton letter and an interesting souvenir of the 1908-09 Expedition sent eight years later by Shackleton, who clearly still had stocks of the C.T.O stamps. Photo on Page 20. £250-300
| 1910-13 Scott Expedition | |
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Letter on printed notepaper of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910 offices in Victoria Street, London S.W, written by Edward Evans, Captain of the "Terra Nova" and second-in-command of the 1910-13 Antarctic Expedition, to Dr E.A Wilson, Chief of the scientific staff on the expedition, who was to die alongside Scott in 1912. Evans invites Wilson and Mrs Wilson to lunch on Monday, and writes "I have to go to the "Terra Nova" by the 10.10 from Fenchurch Street Monday ..... Capt. Scott returns on Monday night later. The British people have paid £688 but promise more. I think I will do no more collecting - it is a beastly job". Also a postcard of Evans signed in ink "yours sincerely ERGR Evans", and a postcard of Dr Wilson in the Antarctic. A fine Evans letter to Wilson and signed photo. (3). £300-350
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Piece signed "R. Scott" with "Postmaster "Victoria Land"" written below. £80-100
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Victoria Land ½d green mounted mint. S.G. A2, £750. Only 2,400 ½d stamps were overprinted. Photo on Page 17. £250-300
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Victoria Land ½d green unmounted mint with reduced upper margin, very fine. S.G. A2, £750+. Photo on Page 17. £280-320
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Victoria Land ½d green horizontal pair unmounted mint, a scarce multiple. Very fine. S.G. A2, £1,500+. Photo on Page 17. £550-650
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Victoria Land ½d green upper left corner marginal block of six, mounted in the upper margin only, the stamps superb unmounted. Just one other ½d block of six recorded; these two blocks are the largest known multiples of this value. A superb and rare block. S.G. A2, £4,500++. Photo on Front Cover. £2,500-3,000
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Victoria Land ½d green tied to piece by the "BRIT. ANTARCTIC EXPD / N.Z" c.d.s dated JA 18 13, a few stain spots clear of the stamp, fine and scarce. S.G. A2, £850. Photo on Page 17. £300-350
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Victoria Land ½d green pair superb used with the Antarctic c.d.s. Used multiples of the ½d are scarce. S.G. A2, £1,700. Photo on Page 17. £600-700
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Victoria Land ½d mint (creased); 1d mint comprising a single with comma instead of a stop, marginal pairs (3, one corner marginal, one stamp with a comma instead of stop) and a block of four, all showing various overprint flaws; 1d used; also ½d and 1d with crude forgeries of the overprint. A good selection, one pair mounted, otherwise all unmounted mint. S.G. A2/3, £1,475. (15). £220-280
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Victoria Land 1d block of eight, one stamp with variety no stop, superb unmounted mint. The no stop variety occurred once in every pane, therefore a maximum of 200 examples could exist. S.G. A3/3a, £810+. Photo on Page 17. £350-450
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Victoria Land 1d block of twelve (3x4) with margin at right, lightly mounted on two stamps only, the other ten stamps unmounted, very fine. S.G. A3, £660. £200-250
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Victoria Land 1d, lower left corner marginal block of fifteen, upper left stamp with short left arm of "V", three missing perfs between vertical columns 2 and 3, a little light staining to reverse, good appearance, lightly mounted on two stamps only, the other 13 unmounted. S.G. A3, £825. £160-200
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Victoria Land 1d block of sixteen, rows 7-10 stamps 18-21 from plate 13, with bow flaw [9/19] and Q flaw [10/19], lightly mounted on two stamps only, the other 14 unmounted, very fine. S.G. £880+. £250-300
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Victoria Land 1d, lower left corner marginal block of twenty, lightly mounted on just one stamp and in the margin, otherwise superb unmounted mint. S.G. A3, £1,100+. Photo on Page 17. £300-400
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Victoria Land 1d, upper right corner marginal block of forty with sheet number "D665845", superb unmounted mint. S.G. A3, £2,200+. £700-800
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Victoria Land 1d, a complete mint pane (right half sheet) of 120 with margins on three sides, sheet number "D665379", various plate flaws to both the stamps and overprints including no stop [7/5]. Sheets were divided into two panes prior to overprinting; this is therefore the largest possible multiple of this stamp. A rare and spectacular exhibition piece, superb unmounted mint. S.G. A3/3a, £6,970+. Photo on Page 18. £3,500-4,000
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Victoria Land 1d used on pieces showing various dates the Antarctic c.d.s was used on expedition mail, all applied at Cape Evans, comprising 9 FE 11, 3 MR 12 and JA 18 13 (2), also 1d on piece C.T.O with JA 18 13 c.d.s, the '3' in the date of the C.T.O datestamp being smaller than that used on expedition mail on this date. S.G. A3, £600+. (5). £180-240
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Victoria Land 1d block of four with central JA 18 13 c.d.s, margin at left, diagonal crease through margin and one stamp, otherwise fine. S.G. A3, £480. £100-120
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1910 (Aug 15) Four page letter written from "St. Simons Bay, South Africa" on notepaper with the printed crest of "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION / TERRA NOVA R.Y.S" depicting a penguin standing on Antarctica, written by James Paton, describing the voyage from Cardiff to Simons Town via Madeira and Cape Verde, the extinguishing of a fire on board caused by the carpenter leaving an unattended kerosene lamp burning, the censuring of the carpenter by Capt. Evans in front of all the crew and expedition members and the birth of puppies on board, the final part of the letter unfortunately missing. With the envelope addressed to Miss Emma Brewer in London bearing two Cape 1d stamps each tied by a Simons Town (Aug 17) c.d.s, the reverse with the printed British Antarctic Expedition Terra Nova crest. A scarce expedition cover written en route to the Antarctic. Photo on Page 20. £500-600
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1911 (Jan 19) Cover to Ashburton, New Zealand, bearing Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, the first use of this c.d.s, used on the "Terra Nova" on the day Mt. Erebus was first sighted. Some staining but very scarce, very few covers recorded with this 19 JA 11 c.d.s. Photo on Page 20. £300-400
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1911 (Jan 19) Cover to Captain W.F Russell, New Zealand Militia in Christchurch "per Terra Nova" with Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, the first use of this c.d.s, used on the "Terra Nova" on the day Mt. Erebus was first sighted. Very fine and scarce, very few covers recorded with this 19 JA 11 c.d.s. Photo on Page 20. £600-800
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1911 (Jan 23) Letter (folded) written by Tom Clissold, the expedition's cook and mechanic, on notepaper with the "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION TERRA NOVA R.Y.S" printed crest, with the very battered envelope (stained, much reduced at top, heavy horizontal fold with some splitting at base) sent to Christchurch bearing Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. An excessively rare item despite the faults, the only example of the 23 JA 11 c.d.s recorded by Robert Duns in "New Zealand Antarctic Postal History To 1941". £400-600
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1911 (Feb 9) Picture postcard written and signed by James Paton, a member of the "Terra Nova" crew, to the Rev. Falconer, Seaman's Missionary at Dunedin, thanking him for his kindness shown to the "Terra Nova" crew upon their visit to Port Chalmers, bearing a Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s applied at Cape Evans. A fine card. Photo on Page 23. £600-700
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1911 (Feb 9) Cover to Christchurch bearing Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, backstamped at Lyttelton (Mar 31), carried from Cape Evans to Lyttelton on the "Terra Nova". Two light vertical folds, otherwise exceptionally fine. Photo on Page 23. £300-400
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1911 (Feb 9) Large cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION TERRA NOVA R.Y.S" printed crest on the reverse, addressed to Wellington by the Assistant Postmaster Lt. Francis Drake with Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, backstamped at Lyttelton (Mar 31). Tear at upper edge, otherwise fine, one of 58 letters sent on this date to addresses requested by the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Dept. at Wellington. Photo on Page 21. £400-500
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1911 (Feb 9) Rotary Photo Co. picture postcard of Capt. Scott and the "Terra Nova", written and signed by Francis Drake, the expedition Secretary and Assistant Postmaster, from Cape Evans, McMurdo Sound, bearing Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. Drake sends New Year greetings to the addressee Dick Griffin in Teddington. A fine and scarce commercial use of this card from an expedition member. Photo on Page 23. £300-400
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1912 (Aug 10) Note written and signed by Harry Pennell, Captain of the "Terra Nova" from his home at Honiton to Rupert England, formerly Captain of Shackleton's "Nimrod", with an attached block of four Victoria Land 1d stamps (some perf separation, one stained) C.T.O with the Antarctic c.d.s of 3 MR 12. The note reads "Dear England, I enclose 4 Victoria Land stamps. They are I think worth keeping, if so they should not be separated (so philatelists tell me). The stamps that come on the market eventually will not be stamped with the post mark. Yours sincerely, Harry Pennell". Photo on Page 23. £150-200
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1912 (Mar 3) Large cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION, TERRA NOVA R.Y.S" crest printed on the reverse, addressed in Captain Scott's handwriting to his sister Mrs Ellison-Macartney at The Royal Mint, London, with Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. Small unobtrusive opening tear at upper edge and a few stained perfs, otherwise fine and a scarce cover from Scott. The 3 MR 12 c.d.s was only used on mail from those expedition members who were staying over at Cape Evans for the third winter. Photo on Page 21. £700-1,000
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1913 (Jan 18) Registered cover to Dunedin bearing Victoria Land 1d single and a pair tied by the Antarctic c.d.s, a further strike alongside on the blank type registration label No.15, the c.d.s used on the "Terra Nova" on the day it arrived at Cape Evans and learnt of the death of Scott and his companions, backstamped at Lyttelton (Feb 12). Closed tear, otherwise fine. A rare commercial registered cover sent by Capt. Edward Evans. 100 Registered covers were sent by the expedition but very few are known still to exist. Photo Inside Back Cover. £2,000-2,500
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1913 (Jan 18) Cover to Mr and Mrs Bowers, the parents of Lt. H.R 'Birdie' Bowers who died with Scott en route to the Pole, bearing Victoria Land 1d tied by the Antarctic c.d.s. The "Terra Nova" arrived at Cape Evans on this day and learnt of the death of Scott, Bowers and their companions, the cover presumably having contained a letter of condolence from an expedition member who knew Bowers. Two vertical folds but an interesting and historic cover. Photo on Page 23. £400-500
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Piece bearing the autograph "H.R Bowers, Lieutenant R.N", applied to a larger piece inscribed "autograph of Lieut Bowers, one of Capt. Scott's comrades - South Pole Disaster. Died Mar. 1912". £150-200
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