GC_GB_0502

SUBSCRIPTION MAGAZINE FOR COLLECTORS OF GREENLAND STAMPS • V O L . 1 0 • N O . 2 • M AY 2 0 0 5

Focus on Church Stamp »Frimærker i Forum« P. 3 P. 4

New Series: Science P. 5

The Ikka Columns P. 8

Rounding off of Series P. 10

Kista's Last Voyage P. 12

DEAR READER

In POST Greenland's continuing efforts to offer our collectors and customers a speedier handling of their orders as well as a better customer service POST Greenland, on the lines of many other modern firms, follows technological development very closely. Within the near future we shall therefore replace our economic system to enable us to provide you with a better service.

I am also pleased to introduce our new, redesigned website. This will be operational on 1st July 2005. The address will still be www.stamps.gl. Apart from the website receiving a face-lift in design, we have added a number of very useful and viable user functions.

Inside the magazine you can read more about these new user-friendly functions of our website.

The long-standing global decline in philately has continued into the new millennium. In the case of Greenland stamps we can, however,

establish that the decrease in 2004 slowed down to a remarkably low rate of decline of only 1%, measured on our number of customers. The reason for this development is a number of advertising initiatives, campaigns with good offers, as well as more new products, just as Greenland stamps in 2004 received very prominent exposure worldwide.

We therefore look forward to continuing to service our many faithful Greenland collectors, who have been with us for years, as well as warmly welcoming all new customers, who have joined us recently.

POST Greenland's much praised ships series, designed and engraved by the gifted and creative engraver, Martin Mörck, will be completed with our issue on 20th June. The stamps series will be most beautifully rounded off by our book »SHIPS IN GREENLANDIC WATERS OVER 1000 YEARS« Volume 2.

I can warmly recommend both Volume 1 from 2003 and Volume 2 to everyone interested in ships as well as to people with an interest in Greenland. The two volumes of the book give a good insight into many details of the proud history of Greenlandic navigation, as well as the political and cultural aspects relating to Greenlandic navigation.

Have a lovely summer and continue to enjoy your reading.

Yours sincerely Søren Rose

Philatelic Manager

Publisher: POST Greenland Customer Service: POST Greenland, Filatelia, Box 121 3913 Tasiilaq, Grønland Phone: +45 7026 0550 and +299 98 11 55 Fax: +299 98 14 32 Email: stamps@tele.gl Website: www.stamps.gl Editors: Søren Rose, Chief Editor; Pertti Frandsen; Lene Skov Meyhoff; Holger Amelung Layout: Datagraf Printing: Datagraf ISSN: 1397-8632 Cover Photo: »Dannebrog«, deposited by Roar Christensen Photo at the top of this page: Knud Josefsen

From the press conference at the Directorate for Culture, Education, Research and Church in Nuuk: Bishop of the Diocese of Greenland, Sofie Petersen, is presented with a sheet of the church stamp by Philatelic Manager Søren Rose. Minister of Culture, Education, Research and Church, Henriette Rasmussen, who hosted the press conference, is seen on the right.

Photo: Malînánguaq M. Mølgaard

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The Church Stamp is the Subject of Great Cultural Attention in Greenland TEXT: PERTTI FRANDSEN

POST Greenland's issue on 17th January this year of the commemorative stamp on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the »Law on Church and School Systems in Greenland« has been the subject of great cultural attention in Greenland.

Aka Høegh's beautiful and warm church design has touched many hearts everywhere in Greenland during the past winter.

As much as 99% of the Greenlandic population are Christian, with religion, Christianity and spiritual awareness constituting an essential part of many Greenlanders' lives.

The Greenlandic Home Rule commemorated the event with a well-attended press conference in Nuuk on the issue date of the stamp. Henriette Rasmussen, Greenlandic Minister of Culture, Education, Research and Church, delivered a speech and in this connection presented the Bishop of the Diocese of Greenland, Sofie Petersen, with a framed sheet of the anniversary stamp.

Philatelic Manager Søren Rose also presented the Bishop with a framed sheet of the stamp and said among other things that stamps, apart from being a postal means of payment, also constitute small pictorial testimonials of the culture of a country, and in the history of Greenland stamps the Church and Christianity were very prominent.

He added that POST Greenland was pleased to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Church Law and subsequently congratulated the Church, the Directorate (Ministry) for Culture, Education, Research and Church as well as the Greenlandic society as a whole on the anniversary year.

Henriette Rasmussen stated that among other things the Directorate intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary by sending the anniversary stamp out to all 5th form pupils in Greenland.

Henriette Rasmussen took the opportunity to encourage the schoolchildren to write letters and make drawings of their experiences with the church

– not least to use the anniversary stamp on letters to family and friends. Subsequently the dispatch of the stamps to the schoolchildren took place in collaboration with POST Greenland.

At the press conference Bishop Sofie Petersen expressed great pleasure that the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Church Law was opened in this manner in Greenland. She added that she was curious to see what the children will write and thanked POST Greenland for the issue of the anniversary stamp.

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TEXT: LARS ANKER-MØLLER, HEAD OF SALES

PHOTOS: DORIT OLSEN

The Crown Princess at »Frimærker i Forum 2004« The red carpet was rolled out at the exhibition »Frimærker i Forum 2004« in Copenhagen last November. The stage was set for three days of lots of stamps and events. Press attention was enormous as the exhibition was to be opened by Crown Princess Mary. This was also reflected in the large attendance of children and young people, who were waiting, hoping to catch a small glimpse of the Crown Princess.

Crown Princess Mary declared the exhibition open and was subsequently shown around. The Greenlandic stand was one of the first visited by the Crown Princess. Here she was welcomed by a young Greenlandic woman dressed in national costume, who presented the Princess with a pair of leather gloves to go with the costume with which the Crown Princess had been presented during her visit to Greenland with the Crown Prince in the summer.

POST Greenland's stand was built up around three themes: »Norse Mythology«, »Arctic Ice« and »Arctic Animals«. As part of the exhibition »Arctic Animals« we had arranged for two young collectors, Lennart Jørgensen and Daniel

Fornitz, to exhibit their very beautiful displays of Greenlandic animals.

In addition, POST Greenland had succeeded in arranging with 'Tivoli' in Copenhagen to take over a block of Greenlandic inland ice which 'Tivoli' had exhibited on their »Greenlandic Day« at the beginning of August. So everyone was very anxious to see if the ice was still in one piece when it arrived by truck after being kept in cold storage for just over three months; but fortunately all went well, and the visitors at Forum ended up taking a bit of inland ice home on the last day of the exhibition.

At the stand we received visits by several personalities, among others the very colourful great hunter from Northern Greenland, Robert E. Peary, who gave a vivid account of arctic ice and Greenlandic animals. There was also a little something for the taste buds, as Sørine Poulsen offered delicious samples of Greenlandic food to the delight of the many visitors.

Interest in Greenland stamps was huge. We were very busy throughout the whole exhibition, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our

customers for their good spirits even though there was some wait.

There were two competitions during the exhibition, and two winners were drawn. They are Magnus Jørgensen (Dragør) and Arne Adelgård (Skibby). Congratulations to both winners.

POST Greenland looks forward to the autumn when we shall be able to welcome new as well as old customers to the exhibition »Frimærker i Forum 2005«. We are planning to present even more exciting features to pave the way for a greater insight into Greenland stamps and our Greenlandic culture.

New series Scientific Discoveries in Greenland

These are just some of the reasons why POST Greenland now launches a new series of stamps entitled »Scientific Discoveries« in Greenland.

The series, which will run for some years to come, will reflect major conquests in research and science in Greenland during recent years.

We hope the theme will appeal to many collectors of Greenland stamps. We certainly look forward to starting this new series with three stamps with designs reflecting geology and zoology.

About the author: Reinhardt Møbjerg Kristensen, born on 06.12.1948, Professor, PhD., BSc, Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen. Has as the only zoologist in the world participated in the discovery and description of three new groups of animals: Lorififera (1983), Cycliophora (1995) and Micrognathozoa (2000). Lived at the Arctic Station, Qeqertarsuaq from 1976 to 1979. Is today director of the Arctic Station, a department of the University of Copenhagen.

TEXT: PROFESSOR REINHARDT MØBJERG KRISTENSEN

The geology, glaciology, flora and fauna of Greenland have for years been the object of researchers' great attention. This is of course not without reason. For the nature and the subsoil of Greenland conceal much information, the consequences of which reach far, far beyond Greenland and our present times. The calculation of the total age of our globe thus had to be corrected by some hundred thousands of years backwards in time as a result of scientific, geological finds made in West Greenland just a few years ago. Also the enormous ice cap conceals deep, deep down, layer by layer, untold proof of major and minor changes in climate on the Earth over thousands of years.

The Discovery of Limnognathia Maerski The discovery of limnognathia maerski is probably the greatest modern sensation within Greenlandic zoology. This small worm-like animal is characterised by its very complicated jaws, the shell on its back and the two lines of cilia on its stomach, enabling the animal to move slowly on moss leaves. The animal can also swim, performing small figure-of-eight pirouettes like a graceful dancer. This tiny animal, which is only 0.1 mm long, was discovered ten years ago (in 1994) when the research ship »Porsild« was handed over to the Arctic Station in Qeqertarsuaq by »A.P. Møller and Mrs. Chastine McKinney Møller Foundation for Common Purposes«.

During her maiden voyage to Aqajarua (The Mud Bay) on the east coast of the Disko Island, teachers and students from Copenhagen University discovered a completely new group of animals, Micrognathozoa, in the cold Isunngua spring.

The first species of the new phylum of animals was named Limnognathia maerski, and it was described by the two Danish zoologists, Reinhardt Møbjerg Kristensen and Peter Funch in the year 2000. Limno means fresh water, and gnathia means jaws, so the generic name simply means an animal with jaws, living in fresh water. The specific name of maerski is in honour of Mærsk McKinney Møller*, who by handing over »Porsild« to the Arctic Station, was its patron. The new group of animals, Micrognathozoa was at first described as a new class closely related to Rotifera and Gnasthostomulida. Micrognathozoa simply means »small animals with jaws«. Later on molecular data (cleaning out of DNA) among other things have shown that Micrognathozoa must have a phylum of their own – the 35th

phylum. Recently Micrognathozoa was also found on the sub Antarctic islands Crozet Islands (in 1997 to 1998) and in Wales (during the winter of 2003 - 2004) Even though these finds were also referred to Limnognathia maerski, they are possibly two new species of Micrognathozoa. This tiny animal has been mentioned in the world press several times, and the animal has even figured in a popular artist's work. * Mærsk McKinney Møller: Owner of the largest shipping company in Denmark

01100350 Science I/3 »Limnognathia maerski« DKK 10.00 Issue Date: 20.06.2005 40 stamps per sheet Format: G-horizontal Outside measurements: 39.52 mm x 28.84 mm Printing Method: Steel engraving Paper: Yellow fluorescent Engraving: Lasse Sjööblom

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The Geological Survey Mapping of Greenland is Complete 6

TEXT BY: OLE BENNIKE, GEUS

In 2004, after 40 years of work, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) completed the geological survey mapping of Greenland. Hundreds of geologists have spent many summers studying the rocks, resulting in 14 geological maps representing an overview of the rocks and structures of the ice-free parts of Greenland. The 14 maps are published on the scale of 1:500,000, meaning that 1 cm on the map corresponds to 5 km in nature. The first of these map sheets was published in 1971, and the fourteenth and last in 2004.

Detailed geological maps are crucial to the mining industry for making decisions as to whether or not to invest in mineral exploration. The Greenland Home Rule aims at making mineral resources an important source of income for the society, along the lines of fishing and tourism, and geological maps constitute one means of attracting the mining industry.

Geological research in Greenland has taken place for several hundred years. However, it was not until the early 1950s that the then Geological Survey of Greenland (GGU) began systematic

geological mapping on the scale of 1:100,000, where 1 cm on the map corresponds to 1 km in nature. This mapping started in the Ivittuut area in South-West Greenland, where geologists wanted to study the region with the only operating mine in Greenland, where cryolite had been mined for over 100 years. Even though the 1:100,000 mapping proceeded well, it soon became clear that strategy would have to be changed, if all of Greenland was to be mapped in the not too distant future. In 1964 it was therefore decided to begin survey mapping on the scale of 1:500,000, parallel with the more detailed mapping. From 1995 mapping has been carried out by GEUS, after GGU that year amalgamated with the Geological Survey of Denmark (DGU) to form the institution of ÂťThe Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenlandÂŤ.

From the 1960s until the year 2000 about 100 people participated in the field-work each summer, which in Eastern and Northern Greenland was organised as large expeditions operating from base camps. From here geologists were flown out into the mountains to conduct

geological mapping on foot from two-man fly camps. In addition to GEUS's own geologists, researchers from many institutions in Denmark and abroad have also participated, resulting in a strongly intensified working up of the collected data.

Field-work has undergone major changes over the years. In the beginning, transport from Denmark to Greenland took place by ship, and local transport was by boat. Later on the geologists began to fly to Greenland, and from 1958 helicopters were employed in the work. For some years GGU owned two helicopters, but otherwise helicopters from Switzerland and later from Air Greenland were used. The Danish Air Force transported personnel and equipment to Eastern and Northern Greenland, where small aircraft to a large extent were used for local transport.

Also in the laboratories major changes have taken place. In particular the geological interpretation of aerial photographs has contributed markedly to speeding up the work. IT development has led to digitised maps, which can be sent by electronic

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media. This development has created the possibilities for an increased integration of geological maps with other types of data, such as geochemical and magnetic data, which are also important to the mining industry.

The completion of the geological survey mapping has provided a good overview of the geology of the ice-free land areas of Greenland, whereas mapping detailed enough to be useful for mineral exploration is still at an early stage. At present, 57 map sheets on the more detailed scale of 1:100,000 have been published, but more than 170 map sheets still need to be produced before all of Greenland is covered. Geologists therefore have many years of work ahead before Greenland has been mapped in greater detail. The work on 1:100,000 mapping continues in selected regions with mineral interests, along with even more detailed mapping of areas where the potential for mineral resources is particularly promising.

The stamp shows a small segment of a geological map from North-East Greenland, with Lyell Land at the bottom, followed by Ella Ø (Island) and the small Marie Ø (Island) near the top. Grey

indicates fiords and whitish colours glaciers. The other colours show different geological types of rock. In this area 700 to 370 million year-old sandstone and carbonate are found. The layers were deposited at a time when Greenland was situated near the equator. The older layers were folded during a major mountain range formation along the coast of North-East Greenland around 400 million years ago.

For further information, please visit GEUS' s website: www.geus.dk About the author: Ole Bennike, born in 1955, geologist.

Employed as an information officer with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. Field-work in Greenland, North-West Europe, Uganda, the Azores and Tristan da Cunha. Author or coauthor of approximately 150 studies and articles. Awarded the gold medal by the University of Copenhagen and the Schibby prize

01100348 Science I/1 »Geological Mapping« DKK 7.25 Issue Date: 20.06.2005 40 stamps per sheet Format: G-vertical Outside measurements: 28.84 mm x 39.52 mm Printing Method: Steel engraving Paper: Yellow fluorescent Engraving: Lasse Sjööblom

TEXT: HENNING THING, RESEARCH COORDINATOR

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PHOTOS: RICHARD MARTIN

The Ikka Columns: A Thousand Chalk-White Cathedrals An old legend narrates that on a dark winter's day the Eskimos attacked the last Norsemen in South Greenland in their farms by the Ikka Fiord. Many of the white people were killed, and the rest fled precipitately out on to the thin ice of the fiord.

The ice burst, and they sank down into the cold, still water where they were transformed into white monoliths. This is the gospel truth! The sites of the farms are still there; the fiord is also there in its obvious beauty and on the bottom of the Ikka Fiord there are a thousand silent towers as if they were guarding a mysterious realm of the past.

It Must be Seen On a lovely summer's day – 500 years after the drama of the legend – the sharp keel of Nuka IV breasts the glassy water. On board the fishing boat from Ivittuut is a group of researchers and divers.

They are all staring intently down into the cold, clear water, as the boat quietly glides over the first, white cathedrals of limestone, ikaites! Among the many outstanding natural phenomena and adventures Greenland has to offer, the distinctive limestone reeves of the Ikka Fiord are probably the most unique. Nowhere else on our globe can anything similar be experienced. Ikka is really a five star locality.

The divers are not slow to jump into their right element, and when they surface, they find it difficult to put their experiences down there into words. It must be seen!

A Unique Natural Phenomenon A close co-operation between the municipality

of Ivittuut, the Greenland Command at Grønnedal, divers and researchers has made this first thorough scientific research of the secrets of Ikka possible. The Ikka project started in 1995, and research is still going on.

'Ikka' ('Ikkanneq' Ed.) is the Greenlandic word for 'shallow'. The Fiord stretches 10 km in a north-easterly direction. Only the innermost 1.5 km are shallow, and this is where the more than 1000 ikaite columns are growing like a forest from the bottom. The largest are 20 metres tall and several metres in width.

The many samples, photos and films now documenting the outstanding environment of Ikka have been through many hands and heads, and researchers from the botanic, geological and zoological institutes of the Copenhagen University have, together with colleagues from England and Canada, uncovered the secrets of Ikka, layer by layer. We now know how the ikaite columns are formed, and why they are found exactly here. Now we know the unique, rich flora and fauna of the fiord in outline.

Researchers, however, think that new, exciting species are still hidden, just waiting to be discovered. Especially the porous interior of the ikaite columns is an unexplored niche of the ecological system, which is sure to harbour some positive surprises.

The Ikaites Should be Protected Research results have already been registered internationally at top level, so the eyes of the world have been directed towards the small, beautiful

fiord between the green mountains in the Norsemen's old land. There is no doubt among those who have seen the magnificence of Ikka with their own eyes – here is a natural phenomenon so outstanding and so vulnerable that it should be protected against destruction and molestation.

Several solutions have been suggested, ranging from a municipal underwater reservation to an international park under the UN World Heritage Convention. In the year 2000 the Greenland Home Rule declared the Ikka Fiord a conservation area.

Facts on Ikaite Ikaite is a kind of hydrous incrustation. Its chemical designation is hexahydrocalciumcarbonate, the formula of which is CaCO3, 6H2O. What is special about this mineral is that it is only to be found in the sea at temperatures below +6°. At higher temperatures the ikaite will simply melt like a piece of ice and dissolve into water and calcite.

This emphasises the fact that the limestone columns constitute an unstable natural phenomenon, which can only be seen in this Greenlandic fiord.

The ikaite columns are youngest at the top and oldest at the bottom. Growth takes place as chemical depositing of ikaite when rising spring water meets seawater. Through experiments of sawing off the top of individual columns, researchers have established that growth can be very fast, about 50 cm during a year. The largest columns are approximately 20 metres tall, but they do not grow all the way up to the surface.

Ikaite cannot be formed in the upper 2 – 3 metres of fiord water, because it is more or less fresh, is too warm in the summer and freezes to ice in the winter.

Today there are good reasons for finding the columns exactly in the Ikka Fiord. Just over a billion years ago there was at this spot a volcano, which never erupted. The lava of the volcano hardened into a mass which, among other things, was the source of the alkaline rock, rich in carbonate, carbonatite, which is today characteristic of the rocks immediately north-west of the Ikka Fiord.

Carbonatite is rare on a worldwide scale, but is common near Ikka, in the neighbourhood of which the Ivittuut Cryolite Mine is also found, which is world-famous for its many rare minerals.

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Rain water and melt water slowly seep through small and large cracks in the carbonatite rock, and on its way down the water dissolves so much carbonate that it is saturated with lime when it reaches the bottom of the fiord. The bottom of the Ikka Fiord is more or less sealed by a thick stratum of clay, but there are spots where passage is possible. The carbonate-saturated fresh water has less specific gravity than the saline seawater and will therefore move upwards once it finds a way through a crack in the stratum of clay. Under each of the many ikaite columns there is such a passage, and on its way upwards the contact between fresh water and seawater provokes a chemical reaction, depositing the Ikaite. The columns are built up like a kind of inverted stalactites.

01100349 Science I/2 »Ikka Columns« DKK 9.25 Issue Date: 20.06.2005 40 stamps per sheet Format: G-horizontal Outside measurements: 39.52 mm x 28.84 mm Printing Method: Steel engraving Paper: Yellow fluorescent Engraving: Lasse Sjööblom

Henning Thing, aged 56. Graduated as a biologist after studies at the Universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus and Fairbanks, Alaska. Worked as a biologist in Greenland and other Arctic regions from 1971 to 1986. Was from 1986 to 1990 in charge of the Natural Administration of the Greenlandic Home Rule. Since 1991 employed with the Danish Polar Centre, now as a research coordinator. In 1994 worked out an administration plan for the open areas of the municipality of Ivittuut, including the Ikka Fiord. Collected during the summer of 1994 – with the assistance of local divers – biological material from the Ikka Columns and subsequently started a coordinated biological geological initiative to have the Ikka Fiord and its columns examined more closely.

Fine Rounding off of the Series »Ships in Greenlandic Waters over 1000 Years« On 20th June, with the issue of the last four stamps in the series, we are rounding off our very popular and much praised series »Ships in Greenlandic Waters over 1000 Years«, designed and engraved by Martin Mörck. The last four ships will be: 10 Dannebrog, Kista Arctica, Sarpik Ittuk and Triton. Below you will find descriptions of the four ships by the recently deceased author, Ole Ventegodt.

TEXT OLE VENTEGODT

01100343 »Dannebrog« DKK 5.25

General information: Issue Date: 20.06.2005 40 stamps per sheet Format: G-horizontal Outside measurements: 39.52 mm x 28.84 mm Printing Method: Steel engraving/Offset (Combination) Paper: TR4 Yellow fluorescent Design and Engraving: Martin Mörck

Dannebrog The royal yacht Dannebrog was built at the naval dockyard and became part of the navy in 1932, replacing the previous royal yacht of the same name, a paddle steamer from 1879. Dannebrog, which is at the disposal of the monarch, has a displacement of 1130 tons and is 80 metres long. She is often used by the royal couple for their summer visits to Danish provincial towns, but has often been in Greenlandic waters as well, a use of the ship which was certainly not planned, when she was built, but which was started by King Frederik IX, who himself was a naval officer, and which has since been continued by his daughter, the now reigning Queen Margrethe II.

Kista Arctica

01100344 »Kista Arctica« DKK 6.00

Kista Arctica was built in Nystad, Finland, in 1973 for the Danish-French Steamship Company and was given the name Grønland (Greenland). The ship, measuring 3338 gross tons and 94 metres in length, has a strong construction, especially designed for navigation in heavy ice, and she is, in the main, probably the most solid ship of the Danish Merchant Navy, built of 22 mm special steel, which is further reinforced at exposed spots. As new, Grønland was chartered for ten years by The Royal Greenland Trade Department, who bought the ship in 1983 and, in 1986, she was passed on to KNI, who renamed her Nungu Ittuk. Seven years later, in 1993, the ship was passed on to the newly founded shipping company of Royal Arctic Line (RAL) and renamed Kista Arctica.

Kista Arctica is especially used where the other ships of the company cannot sail safely, that is on the east coast of Greenland from Danmarkshavn to Angmagssalik, just as she is used for the first call at the ports of the Disko Bay and for navigation to Thule, Upernavik and Uummannaq. For navigation under especially difficult conditions, e.g. up along the north-east coast of Greenland, where scientific, military and meteorological bases and stations are supplied with fuel, building materials and other things which cannot practically be flown up, the ship can be equipped with a helicopter, which can be used partly for ice reconnaissance and partly for the necessary connection with land.

11 Note: Last autumn Royal Arctic Line sold Kista Arctica. This information was of course unknown to both Ole Ventegodt and POST Greenland, when Kista Arctica was chosen as a motif for this ships series. Further information will appear from the article on Kista Arctica's last voyage to Greenland on page 12, Ed.

01100345 »Sarpik Ittuk« DKK 18.50

Sarpik Ittuk Sarpik Ittuk was one of three ships purchased in 1992 for coastal navigation in Western Greenland. They were all built at the Ørskov Shipyard in Frederikshavn, Denmark, and were originally 50 metres long and capable of carrying 150 passengers. But, in the winter of 19992000, two of them – Sarpik Ittuk and Sarfaq Ittuk – were reconditioned and modernised, and they are now 73 metres long and can carry up to 272 passengers in regular service, and with their 2000 hp diesel engines they can do 12 knots. Apart from ordinary passenger traffic, these ships are to a large extent adapted to tourist cruises along the west coast of Greenland, and they can also provide facilities for small conferences.

01100346 »Triton« DKK 23.00

Triton In the 1960s five inspection ships, the Hvidbjørnen (White Bear) Class, were built for the Danish Navy, meant for service in North Atlantic and Greenlandic waters. After approximately 20 years' tough service resulting in considerable wear and tear, it was in the 1980's decided to replace the class by a series of new ships and, in 1991, the first two – Thetis and Triton – became part of the Navy and, in 1992, a further two followed – Vædderen (the Ram) and Hvidbjørnen (White Bear)– at the same time as the old units of the Hvidbjørnen class were phased out.

The new ships, which are equipped with Naval Lynx helicopters with a maximum radius of action of 320 nautical miles and a carrying capacity of 1500 kg, have a displacement of 2700 tons; they have greater seaworthiness than the old ships and can therefore sail faster during rescue operations, just as they can operate helicopters under considerably worse weather conditions than the old ships. At the same time they will be able to accomplish new tasks, within e.g. environment, if and when the need arises.

Kista Arctica's Last Voyage to Greenland The 25th October 2004 was a special date for the inhabitants of Tasiilaq – and probably also for many of our collectors with an interest in ships.

This was the date of Kista Arctica's last visit to Tasiilaq. In spite of all her good navigational qualities, the well-constructed Atlantic ship, which was perfectly suited for the difficult navigation in the icy waters of East Greenland, no longer had the required cargo capacity compared to other modern cargo ships in Greenlandic waters. Her owners, Royal Arctic Line Ltd., had therefore decided to withdraw Kista Arctica from service with a view to replacing her with a newer cargo ship with a larger capacity.

TXT BY PERTTI FRANDSEN

PHOTO: OLE G. JENSEN

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For more than 20 years many citizens of Tasiilaq had got used to the annually recurring calls by the ship with new supplies of goods, which Kista faithfully carried through water and ice every season from July to October. Many inhabitants of Tasiilaq also knew Kista by her previous names of Grønland and Nungu Ittuk when The Royal Greenland Trade Department and later on the trading company of KNI were the owners of the ship.

It was therefore a slightly sad and moving

experience for the local population who, late in the evening on the said date, took leave of Kista, when she left our harbour as the last cargo ship in 2004. A multitude of people had turned up on the quay to wish »The Old Lady«, as she was also called, a happy voyage southwards.

It was a farewell which was celebrated in a proper Greenlandic manner with lots of fireworks, and it was all perpetuated in the autumn darkness in the many flashes from the enthusiastic amateur photographers' cameras.

Few weeks after Kista's farewell to Tasiilaq, Royal Arctic Line announced in a press release that »The Old Lady« had passed into the possession of new, »exotic« owners: Golden Marine LLC, registered in Kingstown in St. Vincent.

We are many in Tasiilaq who, during the coming summer and autumn, will think fondly

of Kista in her new home in the Caribbean heat, far away from the majestic icebergs, where other cargo ships, like her sister ships Arina Arctica and Irena Arctica, will try to fill the part which Kista has for so many years played in our small East Greenlandic community.

The fourth and last souvenir folder on NAVIGATION IN GREENLAND The last four stamps in our ships series, presented on pages 10 and 11, are also available in this beautiful souvenir folder.

01303023 Souvenir Folder »Navigation in Greenland IV« 20.06.2005 DKK 52.75

The stamps feature the four ships »Dannebrog«, »Kista Arctica«, »Sarpik Ittuk« and »Triton«.

Receive the four new ship stamps – as well as a brief description of the ships and their history. Order POST Greenland's new souvenir folder »Navigation in Greenland IV«.

Following our Final Sale on 30th November 2004 we can now publish the following sales figures: Item No. 01100283 01100299 01100300 01100303 01100304 01100317 01100318 01302001 01302002 01301108

Title »Stamps never Issued« - Northern Lights ICES 100 years - Greenland Shark ICES 100 years - Redfish Sledge Dog Puppies Portrait of a Sledge Dog Christmas Stamp 1/03 Christmas Stamp 2/03 Stamp Machine Booklet no. 1 Stamp Machine Booklet no. 2 Christmas Stamp Booklet No. 8

DKK 5.75 7.00 19.00 4.50 4.75 5.00 5.50 20.00 20.00 63.00

Issue Date 16.10.2001 21.10.2002 21.10.2002 12.03.2003 12.03.2003 20.10.2003 20.10.2003 14.01.1997 20.10.2003 20.10.2003

Sales 163,177 116,532 153,855 144.343 279,965 177,976 169,791 14,968 11,255 25,563

Following our Final Sale on 31st March 2005 we can now publish the following sales figures: Item No. 01100260 01100288 01100289 01100297 01100305 01100308 01100309 01100310

Title The Storyteller Norden »Stone and Man« Norden »Snow Sculpture« EUROPA 2002 »Circus« Sledge Dog at Work Additional Value Stamp »Santa Claus« Qaanaaq 50 Years EUROPA 2003 »Poster Art«

Distribution of the Greenland Christmas Seal So far POST Greenland has in accordance with a joint agreement between Juullip Nipitittagaa (The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee) and POST Greenland been responsible for the distribution and sale of the Greenland Christmas Seal. As this agreement expires this year, Juullip Nipitittagaa (The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee) will take over the distribution of the Christmas Seal themselves.

In future, orders, changes of address or questions concerning your Christmas Seal subscription should be directed to: Juullip Nipitittagaa The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee P.O. BOX 97 3900 Nuuk Phone/Fax: (+299) 32 24 34 Email: seal@greennet.gl

DKK 3.00 1.00 31.00 11.00 6.00 5.00 + 0.50 15.00 5.50

Issue Date 21.02.2000 05.03.2002 05.03.2002 24.06.2002 12.03.2003 20.10.2003 16.06.2003 16.06.2003

Sales 189,344 227,813 133,428 201,951 128,939 117,786 104,448 231,004

Methods of Payment - The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee Payments to Juullip Nipitittagaa (The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee) can be made to: GrønlandsBANKEN (Bank of Greenland), P.O. Box 1033, 3900 Nuuk, GREENLAND. Account No.: 6471 - 1406970 IBAN: GL9264710001406970, BIC (SWIFT code): GRENGLGX or BG Bank A/S, Girostrøget 1, 0800 Høje Taastrup, DENMARK. Account No.: 1199 - 6 0072868.

IBAN: DK8630000060072868, BIC (SWIFT code): DABADKKK In addition payments can of course still be made in cash (DKK, Euro or US Dollars only), by credit card or international reply coupons to: Juullip Nipitittagaa (The Greenland Christmas Seal Committee), P.O. Box 97, 3900 Nuuk GREENLAND. NOTE: It is no longer possible to pay by cheque.

You can pay for your 2005 Christmas seals in advance if you just enclose a note to this effect.

It is not possible to use POST Greenland's giro account numbers in Denmark and abroad, as the Greenland Christmas Seal Committee and POST Greenland are two separate companies.

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News from POST Greenland Special Issue of Parcel Post Stamp Postponed Our commemorative stamp G357 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Parcel Post Stamp will not be issued until 31st October. Therefore we ask you to disregard the information in our letter included with the subscription of 17.01.05. Consequently, this commemorative stamp cannot be purchased from 1st May. It will be sent out on subscription on 31st October, the date of the last Greenland issue.

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CORRECTION: Christmas stamp booklet no. 9 and stamp booklet no. 13 are printed on non-fluorescent paper We regret that in Greenland Collectors No. 3, September 2004, and no. 1, January 2005, we published incorrect information about the type of paper on which both our self-adhesive Christmas stamp booklet, item no.

01301109, and stamp booklet no. 13 featuring fungi, item no. 01301213, are printed. On both occasions we stated that the type of paper was TR4.

The correct information is, however, that both booklets (with self-adhesive stamps) are printed on TR A 53 844, C Grade PSA 8016 Booklet. This is

a type of paper with more or less the same qualities as TR4. POST Greenland regrets the incorrect information.

Up until the end of September 2005 POST Greenland will participate in the following philatelic exhibitions: • »Nordia 2005«, Göteborg, Sweden, 26th - 29th May. • »NaPosta 2005«, Hanover, Germany, 2nd - 5th June.

2.-5.6.2005 • »Mare Balticum '05«, Åland, 26th - 28th August.

• »Philatelia und Münz Expo«, Cologne, Germany, 22nd - 24th September.

GÖTEBORG NORDIA '05

26.-29.5.2005

In the January 2005 Greenland Collector we announced that POST Greenland will have a special cancellation produced for »Nordia« and »NaPosta« respectively. This will also be the case with »Mare Balticum« and »Philatelia und Münz Expo«. Envelopes to be cancelled with these special cancellations must, as always, be received by POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than the day before the opening of the respective exhibitions.

Mare Balticum '05, Åland 26.-28. august 2005

www.stamps.gl in new design In order to live up to the demands made on a modern website POST Greenland will renew and improve www.stamps.gl from 1st July 2005.

With the new and improved website it will be even easier for you to order Greenland stamps and philatelic products from 1st July – and it will be even easier for you to get a general view of the articles on sale.

Apart from this, as a completely new aspect of our website, you will be able to find information on your account and subscription.

Naturally on www.stamps.gl you will still be able to read our latest news, information on our stamp artists as well as Greenland Collector as a pdf document.

Note: Information about your customer number will

Visit www.stamps.gl – and experience Greenlandic philately online.

Many thanks for your assistance.

expedite our handling of your orders and enquiries.

Whenever contacting POST Greenland, Filatelia, please always state your customer number. You will for example find your customer number on all invoices received from us.

WORTH

KNOWING…

Please send your orders/amendments to: POST Greenland, Filatelia P.O. Box 121, 3913 Tasiilaq, GREENLAND Phone: (+45) 7026 0550 and (+299) 98 11 55 Fax: (+299) 98 14 32 Email: stamps@tele.gl

Finland: SAMPO BANK, UNIONINKATU 22, 00075, SAMPO. Account No.: 800016-70617928.

IBAN: Fi2580001670617928, BIC: PSPBFiHH

Any change in name, address and/or subscription must be received by POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than 5 weeks prior to an issue.

When exchanging stamps worth more than DKK 100.00, POST Greenland, Filatelia, will charge a fee of 45% of the face value. No more than 3 exchanges per customer per year. The maximum annual value of stamps for exchange per customer cannot exceed DKK 50,000 in nominal value. Old stamps (stamps no longer on our sales list) are always exchanged for new stamps (stamps on our sales list) of the customer's choice. The fee of 45% must always be paid in cash and is not payable by other stamps. For further information, please contact POST Greenland, Filatelia.

NOTE: Please do not write your order on a giro transfer form as these are processed by computers.

How to pay: By giro: Denmark: BG Bank A/S, Girostrøget 1, 0800 Høje Taastrup, Account No.: 1199-940 4120 IBAN: DK98 30000009404120, BIC: DABADKKK Sweden: Postgirot Bank AB (publ), Vasagatan 7, 105 06 Stockholm. Account No.: 41 45-9.

IBAN: SE9795000099602600041459, BIC: NDEASESS Norway: Postbanken, Kunderegister Bedrift, 0021 Oslo. Account No.: 7878.06.55312.

IBAN: NO44 78780655312, BIC: DNBANOKK

The Netherlands: Postbank NV, Account No.: 3487172.

IBAN: NL92 PSTB 0003 4871 72, BIC: PSTBNL21 Switzerland: Postscheckamt, Office de cheques postaux, Ufficio dei conti correnti postali, 4040 Basel. Account No.: 40-6773-5.

IBAN: CH37 0900 0000 4000 6773 5, BIC: POFiCHBE Germany: Postbank, Niederlassung Hamburg, Überseering 26, 22297 Hamburg.

Account No.: 541414200, BLZ 200 100 20.

IBAN: DE03 2001 0020 0541 414200, BIC: PBNKDEFF United Kingdom: Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank plc., Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside, Liverpool GIR 0AA. Account No.: 358 7118.

IBAN: GB69GIRB72000003587118 Luxembourg: Postes et Telecommunications, Division des Postes, Service des Cheques Postaux, Secretariat, 38 Place de la Gare, 1090 Luxembourg.

Account No.: 26606-28.

IBAN: LU18 1111 0266 0628 0000, BIC: CCPLLULL France: La Poste, Centre Régional des Services Financiers, de la Poste en ile-de-France, 16 rue de Favorites, 75900 Paris.

Account No.: 250.01 F020.

IBAN: FR51 3004 1000 0100 2500 1 F02 022, BIC: PSSTFRPPPAR If you are not resident in Denmark and use our account 1199-940 4120, you will be charged a handling fee for each transaction by Euro Giro.

Cash: - DKK, Euro or US Dollars only - to be sent by registered mail Postal order IRC (IBRS) - International reply coupons: - Value DKK 6.00 each.

One-year deadline for claims Any claims concerning stamps or philatelic items purchased from POST Greenland must reach POST Greenland, Filatelia, no later than one year from the last day of the month in which the items were dispatched. The date of the postmark, or possibly the invoice, indicates the date of dispatch.

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Fees for registered letters and parcels dispatched from Greenland Fees for registered letters within Greenland or to Europe (including Denmark and the Faroes) are DKK 45.00. E.g.: Postage for a registered letter stamped with 6.00 (max. 20 g) comes to a total of 51.00. For surcharge on mail to overseas, see: www.post.gl Payment within 30 days Payment of our invoices is to be made within 30 days from the date of the invoice.

We kindly ask you to note that the registration of your payments will take approximately two weeks or more. Therefore, you may receive an invoice with a balance which does not include your recent payments.

All information about prices, fees etc. are subject to printer's errors.

Credit cards: Dankort, JCB, Eurocard/MasterCard, VISA.

We are your service team We are the people you reach whenever you write, fax, email, or telephone POST Greenland. We look forward to offering our continued assistance with your Anja Panduro philatelic enquiries. Pedersen

Lene Skov Meyhoff Sales Assistant Correspondent Danish, English, Danish, German, German.

English.

Helene Tukula Trainee Danish, English.

Kristian »Karé« Pivat Assistant Clerk Greenlandic, Danish.

Moses Utuange Senior Clerk Greenlandic, Danish.

Holger Amelung Sales Assistant German, Danish, English.

Lars AnkerMøller Head of Sales Danish, English, German.

Pertti Frandsen Head of Production Danish, English, German.

Mini Sheets Now Available on Subscription!

Send us your subscription order today – and receive mini sheets automatically with your subscription. Add the subscription code 107 to the »Subscription – New Subscription and Changes« section of your order form.

How to get the glue off self-adhesive stamps If you would like to put your self-adhesive stamps into your album, you can do as follows to remove the glue: Take the stamps out of the booklet, fill a glass with water, put the stamps in the water and leave them there for 5 – 10 minutes. When taking the stamps out of the water, the glue can easily be removed.

Then place the stamps on a sheet of paper to dry.

Once the stamps are dry, they will be without glue and can be put into your album like normal stamps.

Have a good time!

Visit www.stamps.gl and view POST Greenland's clearance sale!

Numbered Etchings – Very Few Left In connection with our joint issue with Canada Post and Posten Norge commemorating the Norwegian Otto Sverdrup's arctic expeditions, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is the last chance to purchase one of the numbered etchings. We have very few of these special etchings left.

The etching is hand printed on 300 g Mühle art paper (format DIN A4) and is drawn by Otto Sverdrup's fellow-countryman, the engraver and artist Martin Mörck. Each etching comes with a beautiful passe partout.

Item No. 01520802. DKK 500.00 + postage

Buy both volumes of »Ships in Greenlandic Waters over 1000 Years« In October 2003 POST Greenland issued the first of two volumes of 64 pages each with the vivid account in text and illustrations on navigation in Greenland. Volume 1 covers the period from the arrival of Eric the Red in Greenland and up to the 1920's.

Volume 1 contains eight stamps, beautifully depicting eight renowned ships which sailed to and from Greenland during this period.

Volume 2 continues where volume 1 ended with accounts on eight proud ships sailing in Greenlandic waters from the 1920's until today – containing the last 8 ship stamps, issued in 2004 and 2005, of POST Greenland's great ships series. Both volumes of the Ships Book are written by recently deceased Ole Ventegodt, while the stamps are all engraved by Martin Mörck. »SHIPS IN GREENLANDIC WATERS OVER 1000 YEARS«, Volume 1 Item No.: 01303015 DKK 179.00 + Postage »SHIPS IN GREENLANDIC WATERS OVER 1000 YEARS«, Volume 2, to be issued on 20th June 2005 Item No.: 01303022 DKK 199.00 + Postage

In the next issue, read about: • Special Issue: 100th Anniversary of Parcel Post Stamp • Continuation of the Expedition Series: Robert Peary and the North Pole • Edible Greenlandic Plants, part 2 • Introduction of »Frimærker i Forum 2005« • The Christmas Stamps • The Year Pack 2005 • Participate in the Election of the Stamp of the Year • Final Sale on 30th November 2005