The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: Australasian Expedition 1911-14, commercial envelope carried on the “Aurora” to the Antarctic with “LOOSE SHIP’S LETTER/POSTED IN/ANTARCTICA/(penguin)/S.Y. AURORA/A.A.E.” and mailed from Hobart to Dunedin franked by Australia 1d. kangaroo (affixed upside down, scarce franking for expedition mail) with Mar. 15 1913 machine cancellation, a little roughly opened. Believed addressed by John King Davis, captain of the “Aurora” and Mawson's second-in-command. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: Australasian Expedition 1911-14, Envelope with fine strike of “LOOSE SHIP’S LETTER/(penguin)/S.Y. AURORA/A.A.E.” cachet without “POSTED In ...” inscription, being one of only two known examples on full envelope, addressed to the Amalgamated Picture Theatres company in Sydney with endorsement “If unclaimed please re-address/Frank Hurley/c/o Kodak, Sydney”, franked 1d. kangaroo cancelled Adelaide Feb. 26 1914 with enclosed handwritten letter from the “S.Y. Aurora” on expedition stationery dated “17th February/14”, “about 9 days from Adelaide” and signed by Hurley with fascinating comments on the 3,000 feet of film that he had taken. Polar icon James Francis Hurley (1885-1962) was official photographer on the Mawson Expedition, his famous motion picture images of the hardships and heroism of the explorers captured by a hand-crank movie camera, the Debrie Parvo L 35 mm. Hurley participated in the record-breaking sledging journey to the South Magnetic Pole that averaged a remarkable 66 km per day, filming key events along the way, his film “Home of the Blizzard (Life in the Antarctic)” being used by Mawson on his tours around Australia and England to recoup the cost of the expedition. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-31: A very rare, possibly unique series of twelve envelopes self-addressed by Stuart ‘Stu’ Campbell, pilot in charge of flying operations mapping the coastline, each with 11/2d. Canberra cancelled by “B.A.N.Z./1930 (penguin)-31/ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXP.” reserve cachet and respectively showing the following typed endorsements: Arrive off Scott Island 16th December 1930; Arrive Belland Island 20th December 1930; Arrive Adelie Land 30th December 1930; Proclamation Day 5th January 1931; Arrive Wilkes Island 10th January 1931; Arrive BANZ Land 14th January 1931. What a celebration!; Arrive Queen Mary Land 1st February 1931; Second Flight February 9th 1931; Third Flight in Antarctic 11th February 1931; Arrive Cape Darnley 12th February 1931; Arrive McRobertson Land 17th February 1931; Landing Cape Bruce 18th February ’31 and raised the flag. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-31: Small “S.A.C. Campbell” self-addressed envelope bearing Australia K.G.V Head 1d. tied by “B.A.N.Z./1930 (penguin)-31/ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXP.” 2nd or ‘Reserve’ cachet, endorsed “The smallest letter ever/flown in Antarctica by/S. Campbell, Pilot, BANZ,/Expedition”, probably carried on the first flight, very rare. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-31: Small envelope endorsed “Last Day in Antarctic Ocean” bearing K.G.V Head 1/2d. orange and 11/2d. scarlet tied by “B.A.N.Z./1930 (penguin)-31/ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXP.” 2nd or ‘Reserve’ cachet and self-addressed by Stuart Campbell with further strike of cachet on reverse. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-31: Rare commercial cover to Isle of Islay Scotland, twice redirected to Glasgow, bearing K.G.V Head 2d. scarlet cancelled by “B.A.N.Z./1930 (penguin)-31/ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXP.” 1st type cachet and additionally tied by Bowmore Apr. 28 1931 c.d.s., vertical cover fold. Photo. (Image1)

The Helen Davis Collection of Penguins: Australia: H.M.A.S. “Penguin”, 1940 cover readdressed from R.M.S. “Mauretania” to the ship, 1944 cover to Hobart censored signed by a “Penguin” lieutenant, 1952 New Zealand O.H.M.S. cover from Auckland Naval Base to the Wardmaster Lieutenant and 1959 cover registered from Naval P.O. Balmoral by a serving W.R.A.N (endorsement on flap). Submarine depot ship H.M.A.S. “Platypus” was commissioned as the “Penguin” in 1929 and recommissioned under her original name in 1941. Construction of a shore base bearing the same name began at Balmoral the same year. (4 items) (Image1)