Establishing Scott Base.
Scott Base was originally constructed as a temporary base in support of the UK inspired and privately managed Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE). The New Zealand government provided support for the TAE and also for other International Geophysical Year (IGY) projects during 1957.
Scott Base 1957. Scott Base 2007.
(2007 50th Anniversary of Scott Base.)
In 1958, following completion of the TAE and IGY projects, New Zealand made the decision to continue operating Scott Base for scientific research. The base passed over to NZ Government ownership via the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), on March 5, 1958.
Today the base is made up of a collection of cucumber green buildings linked by all-weather corridors. These buildings can accommodate up to 85 people over summer, with a "skeleton staff" of between 10 and 14 people remaining over the winter.
This stamp issue below, was originally for use by the Trans-Antarctic Expedition but then continued to be used by the staff and researchers stationed at the newly created Scott Base. The base and the stamp issue were both part of New Zealand's claim for this region of the Antarctic.
1957 Ross Dependency Pictorials
The Stamps.
1/6 - Queen Elizabeth II. 3d - HMS Erebus & Mt Erebus.
Queen Elizabeth II.
A portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. James Berry's drawing was similar to what he prepared for the New Zealand 'Official' series, but with the Queen facing left instead of right.
HMS Erebus & Mt Erebus.
This stamp depicts the ship Erebus with a background design depicting Mt Erebus on Ross Island, and pack ice. The vessel of 370 tons, was built during the Napoleonic Wars and had been specially strengthened for work in the ice. It was the flagship of Sir James Clark Ross, who, in 1841, discovered the volcanic mountain and named it after the vessel. The Dependency takes its name from this well-known explorer.
4d - Shacketon & Scott. 8d - Map of Ross Dependency.
Explorers - Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
Portraits of Robert Falcon Scott, leader of the ill-fated 1910-12 British Antarctic Expedition and Ernest Henry Shackleton, leader of the 1914-16 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, with a map of the Ross Dependency as background. Every possible photograph of the two leaders was scrutinised before the final selection was made.
Ross Dependency Map.
A map of the Antarctic region, with the Ross Dependency shown prominently in relation to New Zealand. The stamp proved difficult to produce as in order to bring both New Zealand and the Dependency within the scope of one stamp, the former had to be foreshortened. The stamp includes the boundaries of the Ross Dependency, 160'E and 150'W longitude and 60'S latitude. Shown on the map are the Ross Dependency, New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Campbell Island, Ross Sea, Cape Adare, McMurdo Sound and the Antarctic Circle.
First Day Cover.
This is a First Day Cover of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition and Scott Base. Notice the specially printed cover and the 11 January post cancelations.
1958 aerogramme from Scott Base, Ross Dependency.
1958 - The First Trans-Antarctic Crossing.
While this set of stamps didn't show any aviation this special cover did. On the cover below three types of vehicle used during this exhibition - husky pulled sledges, tracked vehicles and a DHC-2 Beaver. Another view of this aircraft can be found in the 2018 Ross Dependency issue.
1957-58 - First Trans-Antarctic Crossing - Commemorating Cover.
The stamps are the 1957 Ross Dependency Pictorials, an issue designed for use by the expedition and then used by the newly established Scott Base.
Red Shift to the Left. Red Shift to the Right.
It is actually hard to know where the correct position of the
red should be. Even the two, so called good stamps below have
some variance in the position of the red.
Two shades of blue were seen in the 8d during the period the
stamps were used between 1957 & 1967.
(It must be noted that these same two mistakes did
not re-appear in the decimals after 6th July, 1967.)
Where Did This Design Come From?
The 1957 Ross Dependency 1s 6d and the 1954 Queen Elizabeth Officials were designed by well known stamp designer James Berry. Notice how similar they are with the main difference being the Queen facing on opposite directions. I believe the Ross Dependency design was a cleaner more simple appearance without the framed border of the earlier design.
1967 10th Anniversary of Scott Base.
Two covers designed for the 10th anniversary of the establishing of Scott Base. Both covers were printed for this event as well as a special postmark used. Both covers have all four 1957 values as well.
The date on these postmarks are different to the 1957 cover in that they show the 20th January, the date the base was officially opened, rather than the 11th January as shown on the earlier postmarks, the date when mail was first sent from the base's post office.
1967 Ross Dependency Pictorials
(Decimal Currency)
The Stamps.
On the 10th July, 1967, New Zealand changed to Decimal Currency. Being under the control of New Zealand, The Ross Dependency changed their currency and stamps at the same time. Rather than designing a new set of stamps, the old designs were used, reprinted with new decimal values.
HMS Erebus & Mt Erebus. - 2c Shacketon & Scott. - 3c
Map of Ross Dependency. - 7c Queen Elizabeth II - 15c
First Day Cover.
This first day cover for the 1967 decimal currency reprint is rather interesting. The writing down in the left hand corner appears to have been printed. Above this is the hand strike showing 10 years of the base being open, which has been applied later. The stamps themselves have been arranged with the 15c down the bottom by itself which seems to be a bit unusual. Finally there is no address on the front of the cover, almost as if the cover was never sent through the mail but there is what appears to be a post cancelation, down in the bottom right hand corner.
Technical information 1957.
Date of Issue:
|
11 January 1957
|
|---|---|
Designers:
|
E M Taylor, L C Mitchell, M R Smith and J Berry
|
Printers:
|
Thomas De La Rue, England
|
Stamp Size:
|
3d, 4d : 40mm x 25mm; 8d : 25mm x 40mm; 1s 6d : 25mm x 28mm
|
Sheet Size:
|
120 stamps per sheet
|
Process:
|
Recess printed - Intaglio
|
| Perforation Gauge: |
3d, 4d and 8d : 14; 1s 6d : 13
|
Paper Type:
|
Wiggins Teape 'Royal Cypher', multiple NZ and star watermark
|
Technical information 1967.
Date of Issue:
|
10 July 1967
|
|---|---|
Designers:
|
E Mervyn Taylor, L C Mitchell, Wellington, M R Smith, Levin and J Berry, Wellington
|
Printers:
|
Thomas De La Rue, England
|
Stamp Size:
|
2c and 3c : 40mm x 25mm; 7c : 25mm x 40mm; 15c : 24mm x 28mm
|
Sheet Size:
|
120 stamps per sheet
|
Process:
|
Recess printed - Intaglio
|
Perforation:
|
2c, 3c, and 7c : 14; 15c : 13.5 x 13
|
Paper Type:
|
Wiggins Teape 'Royal Cypher', multiple NZ and star watermark
|
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their web site and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Information for this post came from.
Thank you very much for constructing this interesting website. I was wondering if it might be possible for me to use one of your images (1958 aerogramme from Scott Base, Ross Dependency) in an article that I am preparing. Your permission would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMoa, it is really impossible to have any control over an image once its been placed online. But thank you for asking. Feel free to copy it. One thing though is that we would like to read your completed article.
DeleteKim on behalf of the writers.
Dear Kim, Thank you very much. I will let you know once the article is completed. With kind regards, Adrian
DeleteWe are all interested in your article Adrian. Where can we find it?
DeleteAnne