The 200th Anniversary of the Discovery of Antarctica on cover from Ukraine

I received in March this cover from Ukraine dedicated to The 200th Anniversary of the Discovery of Antarctica. On 27 January 1820, a Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev discovered an ice shelf at Princess Martha Coast that later became known as the Fimbul Ice Shelf. Bellingshausen and Lazarev became the first explorers to see and officially discover the land of the continent of Antarctica. Three days later, on 30 January 1820, a British expedition captained by Irishman Edward Bransfield sighted Trinity Peninsula, and ten months later an American sealer Nathaniel Palmer sighted Antarctica on 17 November 1820. The first landing was probably just over a year later when American Captain John Davis, a sealer, set foot on the ice. Ukrainian Post issued this beautiful stamp on 28.1.2020.


Thank you, Roman!

TAAF: Cover from Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean - Glorioso Islands

The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean consist of four small coral islands, an atoll, and a reef in the Indian Ocean, and have constituted the 5th district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) since February 2007, though sovereignty over some or all of the Islands is contested by Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Comoros. None of the islands has ever had a permanent population.

This cover was sent from Glorioso Islands. It's a group of French islands and rocks totaling 5 square kilometers. The archipelago consists of two islands, Grande Glorieuse and Île du Lys, as well as eight rock islets. They form part of a coral reef and lagoon, and they have an Exclusive Economic Zone of 48,350 square kilometers.The islands are today nature reserves with a meteorological station garrisoned by The French Foreign Legion.


Thank you so much Eric!

French Southern and Antarctic Lands: Cover from Tromelin (Scattered Islands)

The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean consist of four small coral islands, an atoll, and a reef in the Indian Ocean, and have constituted the 5th district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands  since February 2007. This cover is sent from Tromelin Island, a low, flat island in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometers north of Réunion and about 450 kilometers east of Madagascar. Tromelin has facilities for scientific expeditions and a weather station. It is a nesting site for birds and green sea turtles. This beautiful FDC dedicated to Tromelin was issued on 7.11.2019. You can also see machine cancellation added 2 months later by French Post. On the bottom of the cover is signature, possible by postmaster, I'm not sure.


Thank you so much, Axel!

Spanish research station Gabriel de Castilla in Antarctica

The Spanish Antarctic station Gabriel de Castilla was established in the1989/90 campaign. It is located on the SW coast of Port Foster in Deception Island. The base gives support to the scientific research in the island and it is operated by the Spanish Army. The station has different areas: living area, with accommodation for 14 people, scientific module, medical care module, engine room and mechanical workshop, store and emergency module. During the 2000/2001 campaign the base has been modernised, specially the living and scientific areas. The modifications have not increased the capacity of the station but have improved the scientific capabilities and the environmental protection measures.

Thank you so much, Li Ming, for this fantastic surprise!

Cover from McMurdo Station in Antarctica

The McMurdo Station is a United States Antarctic research center on the south tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. The station is the largest community in Antarctica, capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents, and serves as one of three United States Antarctic science facilities. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station first pass through McMurdo. All US mail from Antarctica is processed by United States Air Force, and you can see on postmark military postcode APO AP 96599. And of course, standard US stamps are used, Greetings from South Carolina, issued on 4.4.2002, and Year of the Rooster, issued on 30.12.1992.


Thank you so much, Li Ming, for this great surprise!

Cover sent from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, through American military post service

My friend Li Ming arranged this cover for me from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, sent through American military post in South Pole, as you can see on postmark APO AP 96598. The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a United States scientific research station at the South Pole, the southernmost place on the Earth. The station is located on the high plateau of Antarctica at an elevation of 2,835 metres above sea level and is administered by the Division of Polar Programs within the National Science Foundation under the United States Antarctic Program. It is named in honor of Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Englishman Robert F. Scott, who led separate teams that raced to become the first to the South Pole in the early 1900s. Stamp on cover is Christmas Evergreen Wreath, issued on 23.10.2014.


Thank you, Li Ming!

Cover from Scott Base in Ross Dependency

The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. It is claimed by New Zealand. The Dependency takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea, and includes part of Victoria Land, and most of the Ross Ice Shelf. Ross Island, Balleny Islands and the small Scott Island also form part of the Dependency, as does the ice-covered Roosevelt Island.

This cover was sent from Scott Base, research facility located at Pram Point on Ross Island near Mount Erebus. The research facility was named in honor of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, leader of two British expeditions to the Ross Sea area of Antarctica. The base was set up as support to field research and the center for research into earth sciences, and now conducts research in many fields, operated by Antarctica New Zealand. By road, the base is 3 kilometers from the larger U.S. McMurdo Station.

First two stamps on cover are from set Life in Antarctica, issued on 20.1.1982. Third stamp is Cape Adare, issued on 21.11.2012.


Thank you so much, Trevor!

Cover from French Southern and Antarctic Lands - St. Paul and Amsterdam islands

Amsterdam and Saint-Paul are subantarctic volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, located approximately 80 km from each other. Among the most remote islands in the world, Amsterdam and Saint-Paul are more than 3,000 km from any continent, situated between Antarctica, Africa, and Australia. Amsterdam is an island of about 55 km2, with an extinct volcano reaching 911 m altitude. Saint-Paul is a much smaller island, only 7 km2, and reaching an altitude of 272 m. Together with the Crozel and Kerguelen archipelagoes and the Antarctic territory of Terre Adèlie, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, formed in 1955.

Stamps on cover:
First 3 stamps are from set Penguins, issued on 7.6.2018.
Last stamp is La Quille Rock, St Paul Island, issued on 2.1.2018.


Thank you so much, Eric!

Flags of the World Series: French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Kerguelen

The Kerguelen Islands, also known as the Desolation Islands, are a group of islands in the Antarctic constituting one of the two exposed parts of the Kerguelen Plateau, a large igneous province mostly submerged by the southern Indian Ocean. They are among the most isolated places on Earth, located 450 km northwest of the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands and more than 3,300 km from Madagascar, the nearest populated location (excluding the Alfred Faure scientific station in Île de la Possession, about 1,340 km from there, and the non-permanent station located in Île Amsterdam, 1,440 km mi away). The islands, along with Adélie Land, the Crozet Islands, Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands, and France's Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and are administered as a separate district.

Stamps on card:
First two stamps are from set Logos of French South and Antarctic Territory, issued on 30.3.2016.
TAAF Flag (from set of five), issued on 1.1.2008.
Refuge in the Canyon of the Black-Browed Albatross - Kerguelen, issued on 2.1.2018.


Thank you Marie!

French Southern and Antarctic Lands: Cover from Crozet Islands

The Crozet Islands are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean. They form one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It consists of several small uninhabited islands of volcanic origin. Discovered by Captain Nicolas-Thomas Marion-Dufresne in 1772, the islands cover an area of 505 square km. Rising to 2,000 m on the Île de la Possession, they are rugged, with steep cliffs, and have been the scene of many shipwrecks. They have been designated a national conservation area.

Stamps on cover:
First 3 stamps are from set Penguins, issued on 7.6.2018.
Bigger, round stamp is Crozet Island Spider, issued on 2.1.2018.

There is also on back special cancellation and signature of post master!


Thank you so much Erik!

Flags of the World Series: French Southern and Antarctic Lands - Kerguelen

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises, TAAF) is an overseas territory of France. The territory has no permanent civilian population. Those resident consist of visiting military personnel, officials, scientific researchers and support staff. This postcard arrived from The Kerguelen Islands, also known as the Desolation Islands, a group of islands in the Antarctic constituting one of the two exposed parts of the Kerguelen Plateau, a large igneous province mostly submerged by the southern Indian Ocean.

Two nice postmarks and two beautiful stamps from minisheet Tuna Fishing, issued on 2.1.2017.


Thank you Catherine!

British Antarctic Territory: Damoy Hut

I received wonderful postcard from British Antarctic Territory. This surprise postcard sent me my friend Wolfgang, and he is author of this photography. The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories, of which it is by far the largest by area. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 20°W and 80°W, forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole, overlapping the Antarctic claims of Argentina and Chile. Most countries do not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica.

This fantastic stamp with nice, clear cancellation is from set The 25th Anniversary of the IAATO - International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, issued on 13.11.2016.


Thank you Wolfgang!

French Southern and Antarctic Lands (T.A.A.F.): Terre Adélie

This is my first mail from French Territories in the Antarctic! Cover was traveling very long time, but it's finally here!

This is FDC François Tabuteau, 1921-2000, issued on 17.04.2015.

After his studies at the Collège de Clermont, he prepares the Naval Academy and then passes the tests of EOR (Reserve Officers Pupils) in Algiers in 1943, became an officer in the "Transat" and Master Mariner in 1948. Detached from Transat in July 1949, he participated in the first trip and the first two Charcot Antarctic expeditions of Paul Emile Victor in Terre Adélie in Port Martin in 1950 and 1951, as hydrographer, observer Astronomical and navigator.

After his return, he wrote in 1955 a novel Yaka, with preface by Paul Emile Victor, which tells the real life of a little dog Terre Adélie among a group of explorers in this polar universe.


Thank You very much Axel!