Afghanistan: A range of 1960s to 1970s inland commercial covers, many franked at 50p. rate, also officials in pink/red shades, newspaper stamps incl. S.G. N652 used for postage, commemoratives, etc. (approx. 150)

Andorra: A mainly used collection on leaves, incl. French with 1931 to 5f., 1932-43 to 50f., 1936-42 postage due set, 1944-51 set, 1950 Air 100f., 1955-58 postage and air set, 1961-82 set, Spanish 1929-38 to 10p., 1972 Europa 8p., etc., varied condition. (few 100s)

Antarctica: Belgian Expedition 1897-99: "EXPÉDITION ANTARCTIQUE BELGE" printed cover (stamp torn away) and enclosed three page letter on expedition stationery, written and signed by Emil Racoviță (with personal handstamp) sent 1904 (Feb.) from France to Carl Skottsberg, biologist with the 1901-04 Swedish Expedition, in Sweden. Emil Gheorghe Racoviță (1868-1947), biologist, zoologist and speleologist, was was the the first researcher to collect botanical and zoological samples from areas beyond the Antarctic Circle and first Romanian to participate in an expedition to the Antarctic. He later served as President of the Romanian Academy from 1926 to 1929. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Antarctic Territory: 10th Anniversary of Antarctic Treaty 11/2p. gutter pair correctly franking 1974 (Mar. 7) envelope to Middlesex, tied by Argentine Islands F3 c.d.s’s with Apr. 29 ms. receiving note on reverse, large H.M.S. “Endurance” (Youle END1-04) and Argentine Islands boxed cachet (F-C-04) . SH 39 var., S.G. 38 var. Ex Leppard. A unique item. Heijtz notes that gutter pairs of 11/2p. and 4p. values are not known, the “11/2p. and 4p. probably all guillotined to sheets of 30”. This cover proves otherwise but we know of no other example. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Expedition 1907-09: King Edward VII Land 1908 1d. mint, horizontal crease, and fine block of eight (4 x 2) cancelled by expedition c.d.s’s of “FE 27/08” without time slug on the day the post office was fully established. S.G. A1, cat. £859. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Expedition 1907-09: King Edward VII Land 1908 1d. used (3), one on 1908 (Feb. 3) expedition envelope to London, horizontal fold clear of adhesive. S.G. A1. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Expedition 1910-13: Victoria Land 1911 1/2d. and 1d. (on piece) each cancelled “JA 18/13” expedition c.d.s. (time of arrival of the “Terra Nova” at Cape Evans), affixed to individual official certificates sold to raise funds, some faults but stamps fine, also 1d. fine unmounted mint. S.G. A2, A3. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Graham Land Expedition 1920-22: Real photographic postcard showing expedition members Maxime Lester and Thomas Bagshawe with magistrate Arthur Bennett and captains Hansen and Anderson in front of the shack in which they overwintered at Waterboat Point, the card produced and sent by Bennett to his son in Stanley franked by Falklands 1d. tied by fine strike of “DECEPTION ISLAND/26 JAN 1922/SOUTH SHETLANDS” oval in violet. Very rare. Heijtz certificate (2021) On Jan. 12 1921 the four-man Expedition, led by John Lachlan Cope and originally conceived to a much larger design arrived at Paradise Harbour and landed on a small island with a promontory they named ‘Water-boat Point’ due to the presence of an old whaler’s boat which, with attached cases of provisions, was to serve as an improvised hut with an extension added before winter arrived. After the early departure of Cope and his deputy Hubert Wilkins, Bagshawe and Lester voluntarily remained in pursuit of a varied scientific programme although lacking many important items of equipment, until relieved in Jan. 1922, becoming the smallest British expedition to overwinter successfully in Antarctica. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: British Graham Land Expedition 1920-22: Contemporary photograph from the personal collection of expedition geologist Thomas W. Bagshawe, showing the Andvord Bay hut with Union Jack in which Bagshawe overwintered with Maxime Lester. Endorsed on reverse and with accompanying letter (1956) from Bagshawe’s son, Richard. A rare item from this difficult expedition.

Antarctica: 1984 to 1987, a duplicated selection of commemorative covers incl. Cessna and Concorde flights, comprising In the Footsteps of Scott Expedition (55), some signed, A.A.T. 1987 Antarctic Scenes (71) with 39 signed by Wood, Mear etc., 75th Anniversary of Scott’s Arrival at South Pole with B.A.T. 1987 Scott set (213), many signed incl. Peter Scott (57) and Vivian Fuchs (29), mainly fine.

Antarctica: Early Exploration: Georg von Neumayer, two page letter written and signed by Neumayer, dated Mar. 13 1904 and sent to Carl Skottsberg, botanist with the 1901-04 Swedish South Polar Expedition, with reference to to the 1882-83 German South Georgia Expedition. A rare item. One of the fathers of Antarctic exploration, Georg von Neumayer (1826-1909) was a German polar explorer and scientist who became a leading proponent of international cooperation for meteorology and scientific observation. Von Neumayer participated in the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61, chaired the International Polar Commission in 1879, co-authored the first ‘cloud atlas’ in 1890, established the German Commission for South Polar Exploration which led to the ‘Gauss’ expedition of 1901-03 and was a mentor to Roald Amundsen, among many Polar explorers. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: French Expedition 1908-10: 1910 (July 20) "DEUXIÈME EXPÉDITION ANTARCTIQUE FRANÇAISE 1908-1910" printed stationery card with message written and signed by Jean-Baptiste Charcot, regretting a failed meeting in Punta Arenas and providing the French address of expedition member Louis Gain. Jean-Baptiste-Étienne-Auguste Charcot (1867-1936), doctor and scientist, conducted many investigations in both polar regions, leading two important expeditions to the Antarctic, first in the “Français” and later in the “Pourquoi Pas”, in the wreck of which off the coast of Ireland Charcot was to perish in 1936. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: German Expedition 1901-03: 1905 (Nov. 11) printed "DEUTSCHE SÃœDPOLAR EXPEDITION" envelope and four page letter on expedition stationery written and signed by Emil Werth to fellow botanist Carl Skottsberg in Sweden, sent from Berlin franked 10pf. pair. A very scarce item from the later planned expedition which never transpired. Emil Werth (1869-1958) served on the ‘Gauss’ expedition and headed the Kerguelen station in a small group independent of the main expedition, overwintering in 1903, during which meteorologist Josef Enzensperger died of vitamin deficiency. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Later Expeditions: Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-58: 1957, four matching envelopes to New Zealand bearing Dependencies overprint set cancelled at Bases A, N, O (showing asterisk at foot error) and W respectively, also similar cover from Base G but to London, each with enclosed printed letter from Private Secretary of the Duke of Edinburgh, the last cover with Duke’s crest on flap. (5 covers)

Antarctica: Later Expeditions: Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-58: 1960 (Aug. 11) letter written and signed by Louise, wife of Sir Edmund Hillary, agreeing to a request for her husband to sign a cover for collector A. Roberts but “he leaves for the Himalayas on 30th Aug & will not be back until next year” (this being for the 1960-61 Silver Hut expedition), the letter (with Roberts’ submitted photo of the cover in question) enclosed in Roberts s.a.e. and returned from Remuera with New Zealand 3d. added to G.B. 3d. and no postage due charged. Most unusual.

Antarctica: Norwegian, British, Swedish Expedition 1949-52: Expedition postcard "Maudheim 8 september 1950" with expedition ‘penguin’ cachet in black, dated in ms. “6/10-1951” with signatures of four expedition members: John Giaever (leader), Valter Schytt (second in command), Charles Swithinbank (assistant glaciologist) and Gösta Liljequist (meteorologist). Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Norwegian, British, Swedish Expedition 1949-52: “BRØDRENE JAKOBEN’S REDERI/TROMSØ” envelope (shipping company owner of the expedition ship "Norsel") addressed to Eskilstuna, Sweden with expedition ‘penguin’ cachet in black and franked by Sweden 15ö. pair tied by Göteborg Oct. 31 1951 c.d.s’s. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Norwegian, British, Swedish Expedition 1949-52: Envelope addressed to Eskilstuna, Sweden with expedition ‘penguin’ cachet in violet and franked by Sweden 30ö. tied by Stockholm Dec. 12 1952 machine cancellation, with original enclosed letter on printed Expedition stationery signed by Valter Schytt (second in command) explaining that no proper postmark was used by the expedition, only the cachet being available. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: RRS Discovery II Expeditions 1929-39: 1934 (Dec. 27) unusual use of Ireland 2p. postal stationery envelope with added Falklands 1933 Centenary 1d., addressed to George Cutress in Surrey franked 1929-36 1d. cancelled by indistinct Port Stanley PS.1A c.d.s. of Dec. 27 1933, the day on which the ship left for the Pacific, with two strikes of straight line “PAQUEBOT” in violet and double oval “FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT/(crown)/SHIP “DISCOVERY”” cachet (with ms. “II”) in blue. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: Nine covers or cards sent to Otto Nordenskjöld between 1888 and 1906, mostly from and within Sweden but incl. one addressed to him in Brussels c/o Henri Arctowski (Polish scientist and member of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition). Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928) was leader of the Expedition which, despite its tribulations and ending, could be considered a significant scientific success, having explored much of the eastern coast of Graham Land, the Joinville Island group and the Palmer Archipelago. It resulted in great fame for Nordenskjöld at home but left him greatly in debt. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: 1897, 1899, two covers sent from Argentina at 12c. rate, addressed to Otto Nordenskjöld in Sweden, sent after Nordenskjöld’s return from his 1895-97 geological expedition to Patagonia. Otto Nordenskjöld (1869-1928) was leader of the Expedition which, despite its tribulations and ending, could be considered a significant scientific success, having explored much of the eastern coast of Graham Land, the Joinville Island group and the Palmer Archipelago. It resulted in great fame for Nordenskjöld at home but left him greatly in debt.

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: 1901 (Oct. 11) “SVENSKA SYDPOLSEXPEDITIONEN” printed expedition cover franked 10ö. with enclosed letter on matching expedition lettersheet sent from Gothenburg by Carl Skottsberg to his aunt, Marie Ljunggren in Karlshamn, Sweden shortly before the expedition’s departure. The letter reports that Skottsberg is staying in the Hotel Göta Källare and has inspected the ship “Antarctic” - which does not agree to the length of his body! Carl Johan Fredrik Skottsberg (1880-1963) served as official botanist to the Expedition and on his return to Sweden published in 1905 the first comprehensive phytogeographic study of the flora of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. He later led the Swedish Magellanic expedition of 1907-09 and published a subsequent narrative account, “The Wilds of Patagonia” in 1911. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: 1901 (Oct. 27) “EXPÉDITION ANTARCTIQUE SUÉDOISE” lettersheet sent from Falmouth, England by Carl Skottsberg to his aunt, Marie Ljunggren in Karlshamn, Sweden. The letter mentions that the passage has been stormy, that Lt. Duse has now joined the ship, but that everything on board is in a mess after the coaling in Falmouth. Carl Johan Fredrik Skottsberg (1880-1963) served as official botanist to the Expedition and on his return to Sweden published in 1905 the first comprehensive phytogeographic study of the flora of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. He later led the Swedish Magellanic expedition of 1907-09 and published a subsequent narrative account, “The Wilds of Patagonia” in 1911. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: 1901 (Nov. 14) “SVENSKA SYDPOLSEXPEDITIONEN” lettersheet headed from the “Antarctic” and sent from Cape Verde by Carl Skottsberg to his aunt, Marie Ljunggren in Karlshamn, Sweden. Skottsberg reports that the letter is sent from S. Vincent, Cape Verde off the coast of Africa and that all is well. Carl Johan Fredrik Skottsberg (1880-1963) served as official botanist to the Expedition and on his return to Sweden published in 1905 the first comprehensive phytogeographic study of the flora of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. He later led the Swedish Magellanic expedition of 1907-09 and published a subsequent narrative account, “The Wilds of Patagonia” in 1911. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Swedish Expedition 1901-04: 1901 (Nov. 25) cover (stamp removed) and enclosed four page letter, both with “S.Y. “ANTARCTIC”/SWEDISH/EXPEDITION” cachet in violet, sent from Buenos Aires by Carl Skottsberg to his sister Mathilda Skottsberg in Karlshamn, Sweden, the letter written in diary form, commencing "Antarctic 25/11 1901" and ending "Buenos Aires 17/12", mentioning the crossing of the equator with baptism by ‘Neptune’, dinner menus with lots of wine, and that the address to use is the Swedish-Norwegian Consulate, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Carl Johan Fredrik Skottsberg (1880-1963) served as official botanist to the Expedition and on his return to Sweden published in 1905 the first comprehensive phytogeographic study of the flora of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. He later led the Swedish Magellanic expedition of 1907-09 and published a subsequent narrative account, “The Wilds of Patagonia” in 1911. Photo. (Image1)