Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: 1939 (Sept. 16) two page typed letter signed by Byrd, written from his home in Boston to the President of the Warren Steam Pump Co. in Warren, Mass. soliciting the donation of pumps for the reconditioning of the “Bear”, essential for the success for the expedition, the purposes of which he declares to be “to substantiate this country’s claims to large areas of the Antarctic previously discovered by our nationals, to carry put a comprehensive program of research in numerous major scientific fields and to penetrate and explore new territory.” Historic. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: The Snow Cruiser, scarce Chicago-Boston overland trip cover signed by designer Thomas Poulter, “THE SNOW CRUISER/REACHES THE/SOUTH POLE” envelope, examples unused (2, one printed as sample), red “DEFENSE PLANS HALTED” overprint cancelled May 6 1941 on return to Boston and signed by Byrd, and another example found later in the Cruiser’s lockers by members of Operation Highjump with typed cachet and bearing Canal Zone 6c. cancelled USS “Mount Olympus” Feb. 6 1947, also six photos of the Cruiser and planes. (Image1)

Antarctica: U.S.A. Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: Combination cover, self-addressed and carried by pilot James McCoy, U.S.N., endorsed and signed at left, this believed to be the only cover carried on the Little America III Condor flight forced into emergency landing on the Beardmore Glacier in Jan. 1941 whilst resupplying a trail party, and showing a range of other adhesives and cancellations incl. Cristobál, C.Z. Nov. 29 1939, Pitcairn Island Dec. 14, Ahurei, Île Rapa Dec. 17, Wellington, N.Z. Dec. 27, Little America Feb. 1 1940 and East Base Mar. 22, the date of the dramatic flown evacuation. James Charles McCoy (1905-1981), Chief Pilot for the United States Antarctic Service at West Base was commemorated by the naming of Mount McCoy in Marie Byrd Land. Ex Goldberg. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: U.S.A. Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: 1939 (Dec. 14) Printed “Aboard the ANTARCTIC SNOW CRUISER” envelope to U.S.A., endorsed “Ted Petras, U.S. Antarctic Expedition U.S.S. North Star, Dunedin New Zealand”, bearing New Zealand 1935 21/2d. cancelled by Agency c.d.s., and 1935 4d. cancelled by Wellington c.d.s. with “AHUREI/ILE RAPA” c.d.s., and straight line “AHUREI ILE RAPA”, scarce. The U.S.S. “North Star” carrying Byrd and 44 members of the U.S. Antarctic Service, had anchored off Pitcairn for water and repairs. Ex Brill. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: U.S.A. Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: 1939 (Dec. 14) “U.S.S. North Star” cacheted envelope to U.S.A., bearing New Zealand 1940 Centenary 3d. cancelled by Wellington c.d.s. with Pitcairn Island Agency c.d.s. below, with “R.E.C./W.A.C.” initials, resealed by “Opened and passed by Censor/in New Zealand” label and violet circular “PASSED BY CENSOR/29” mark. Ex Brill. The Pitcairn Island stencilled cachet had been created on board by East Base commander Richard Blackburn Black (1902-1992) on Dec. 11. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: Amended ‘Snow Cruiser’ envelope carried on Jan. 14 1940 Barkley-Grow seaplane exploration flight, signed by Ashley Snow (pilot), Earl Perce (co-pilot) and Zadic Collier (mechanic), franked 3c. cancelled by USS “Bear” Mar. 5 1940 duplex. Ex Evans. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: USS “Bear”, selection of covers with a range of duplex types, cachets etc. incl. 1940 (Jan. 17) to Dunedin also showing “U.S.S. NORTH STAR/LITTLE AMERICA/MAR 20 1940/U.S. DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR”, (Jan. 19) Dept. of the Interior envelope signed and privately used New York by physicist Murray Wiener, (Mar. 5) card bearing 1/2c. with registered c.d.s. and 2c. pair tied by scarce “HORSESHOE BAY” straight line, unusual cover sent by Wiener with both 1941 (Jan. 21) Little America and Evacuation East Base Mar. 22 duplexes, etc. (14 covers)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: USS “North Star” visit to Chile, U.S. Department of the Interior ‘Penalty for Private Use’ envelope sent by biologist Milton Lobell from Valparaíso to New Zealand franked 30c., with scarce “Byrd-U-S-Antarctic Expedition I/This stamp was applied/on the/Antarctic Continent/West Base 1940” in violet (”0” entered by hand), resealed by “Opened and passed by Censor/in New Zealand” label and violet circular “PASSED BY CENSOR/19” mark, some cover faults but a rare item from this visit. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: Amended ‘Snow Cruiser’ envelope carried on Feb. 27 1940 Barkley-Grow seaplane exploration flight, signed by Ashley Snow (pilot), Earl Perce (co-pilot) and Zadic Collier (mechanic), franked 3c. cancelled by USS “Bear” Mar. 5 1940 duplex. Ex Evans. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: USS “North Star”, selection of items incl. scarce circular dated cachet “U.S.S. NORTH STAR/U.S./DEPARTMENT/MAR 8 1940/OF INTERIOR/ANTARCTICA” on cover to sister of the ship’s purser first cancelled by Little America Jan. 17 duplex, (Mar. 10) letter on Dept. of the Interior letterhead from John O. Wahlborg Jr., also 1940 (Jan. 14) covers from both ships on day of arrival in Bay of Whales.

Antarctica: USA Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: Illustrated envelopes for West Base-Little America and East Base-Neny Fjord (a limited number of each were printed and used solely by expedition members), both franked 3c. and sent to the designer of the sketches, Louise Holtgreve in Washington DC, cancelled by Jan. 26 1941 “LITTLE/AMERICA” and Mar. 22 “EVACUATION/EAST BASE” duplex respectively. Also photographs of the two base commanders. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: U.S.A. Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41: Evacuation of East Base, cover with typed endorsement of having been carried on every flight from East Base, signed by flight crew, franked 3c. cancelled by USS “Bear” Evacuation East Base Mar. 22 1941 duplex, very scarce. Ex Goldberg. Photo. (Image1)