6th International Polar Philatelic Exhibition
The Polar Salon is an international “worldwide” polar philatelic exhibition that takes place in various parts of the world every three years, mostly as part of national or international exhibitions
What is a polar salon and what can visitors expect at an exhibition of polar philately?
Polar philately consists of philatelic material with a polar (Arctic and Antarctic) character. It is an organized international philatelic activity since the mid-1950s. Visitors will see exhibits from the earliest postal documents to interesting current presentations of polar topics.
What are the highlights of the upcoming exhibition?
The Polar Salon will present polar philatelic exhibits of extraordinary significance comparable to the most interesting items that occur in general philately. Unique materials will be exhibited here, such as the first letters from the Antarctic region, where scientific research was part of the expeditions of seal hunters and research expeditions from the early 19th century. The oldest known philatelic material from Greenland (18th century) or material showing the oldest transit of the Northwest Passage (in the middle of the 19th century) will also be interesting. However, there will also be interesting exhibits with more modern material.
What special will the polar salon represent?
There will be polar exhibits not only from all over Europe, including the Czech Republic, but also from the USA, Australia and other countries of the world to demonstrate the splendor and appeal of polar philately.
There will be mostly exhibits from the so-called heroic age of both polar regions, which was the era that began at the end of the 19th century and ended after the First World War. The Shackleton-Rowett expedition in 1921-22 is often given by historians as the dividing line between the heroic age and mechanical age.
The first official letter from Antarctica recognized in the study of the Antarctic region
Captain Charles Jonathan Winship writes to his father (manuscript) from Potter Cove, the South Shetlands on 21 February 1821 that he arrived at O’Cain Harbor (named after his ship) earlier to begin sealing.
1839-43 “British (Ross) Antarctic Expedition”
This is the earliest known concessionary letter from the Falkland Islands and one of the earliest known letters from Antarctic exploratory expeditions (the only preserved letter sent from Ross’s expedition).
1897-99 “Belgian Antarctic Expedition” – the first scientific expedition in Antarctica
All correspondence from the Belgian Antarctic Expedition is very rare and until recently unavailable.
Of course, two famous competitors on their way to the South Pole must not be missing. 1910-12 “Norwegian (Fram) Antarctic Expedition” (Roald Amundsen)
”Fram-Expeditionen” printed envelope sent by expedition leader Roald Amundsen to his brother Gustav at Kristiania. “Sent by R. Amundsen from the South Pole journey”, sent from Buenos Aires on 22 April 1911.
1910-13 British (Terra Nova) Antarctic Expedition
Captain Scott canceled this cover at Cape Evans, 9 February 1911, with the expedition post office’s postmark and used special expedition postage stamp (overprinted by NZ) . It was one of the first two dates of expedition mail.
